English
Translated title
A Political Investigation into functional cooperation between china as it relates to digital infrastructure, and to What extent is china partaking in this capacity building process
Author
Benson, Shujaa
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-01-31
Pages
62
Abstract
This thesis investigates the often overlooked link between ICT growth in Tanzania and Chinese influence, applying (de)securitization theory to analyze the partnership. Using Tanzania as a case—selected for its long history of Chinese-backed infrastructure and the central role of government in digitalization—the study asks what security concerns are embedded in Sino‑Tanzanian ICT cooperation, how they map onto a securitization framework, and how they are managed or can be de-escalated. The methodology combines contextual analysis of ICT development, regulation, and cooperation with an extensive literature review and qualitative interviews with Tanzanian ICT sector representatives and entrepreneurs, analyzed through narrative and thematic approaches. Findings indicate that technology transfer and capacity building are key paths to desecuritization in the Tanzanian ICT context and point to the need to depoliticize concerns about dependence on external development aid. The thesis highlights the specific challenges of desecuritizing cyberspace and contributes to extending the application of securitization theory in an African context.
Dette speciale undersøger den ofte oversete sammenhæng mellem væksten i Tanzanias IKT-sektor og kinesisk indflydelse og anvender (de)sekuritiseringsteori til at analysere samarbejdet. Med Tanzania som case – valgt for landets lange historik med kinesisk infrastrukturstøtte og regeringens centrale rolle i digitalisering – adresserer studiet spørgsmål om, hvilke sikkerhedsmæssige bekymringer der opstår i Sino-tanzaniansk IKT-samarbejde, hvordan de konfigureres i en sekuritiseringsramme, og hvordan de håndteres eller kan afdramatiseres. Metodisk kombineres kontekstuel gennemgang af IKT-udvikling, regulering og samarbejde med en omfattende litteraturgennemgang samt kvalitative interviews med aktører i Tanzanias IKT-sektor og iværksættere, der analyseres narrativt og tematisk. Fundene peger på teknologioverførsel og kapacitetsopbygning som centrale veje til desekuritisering i den tanzanianske IKT-kontekst og behovet for at afpolitisere bekymringer om afhængighed af ekstern udviklingsbistand. Studiet fremhæver særlige forhold ved desekuritisering af cyberspace og bidrager til at udvide anvendelsen af sekuritiseringsteori i en afrikansk kontekst.
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Keywords