Bandwidth and Borders: A Quantitative Analysis of Digital Access as a Determinant of Human Security in Post-Conflict States
Institutional Affiliation
Graduate Student
Start Date
January 2026
End Date
January 2026
Proposal Type
Presentation
Proposal Format
On-campus
Proposal Description
While traditional approaches to human security emphasize physical protection, institutional reform, and community healing, this presentation (paper) introduces a less explored but increasingly vital dimension: digital access. In post-conflict societies, access to reliable internet and communication tools can significantly influence the ability of citizens to secure basic needs, receive humanitarian aid, report human rights violations, and participate in civil rebuilding efforts. This study explores whether digital infrastructure—measured through national indicators of mobile phone coverage, broadband penetration, and internet access—can be empirically linked to improvements in human security outcomes.
Using a dataset that merges information from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank Development Indicators, and Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), this study examines 40 post-conflict or fragile states from 2000 to 2022. It tests the relationship between digital access and changes in indicators such as civilian-targeted violence, access to emergency services, and aid distribution equity. Multiple regression models and comparative cluster analysis are used to identify patterns and outliers.
Initial results suggest that countries with higher rates of digital connectivity experienced faster declines in conflict recurrence, increased humanitarian access transparency, and greater local participation in governance processes. These findings position digital equity not only as a development goal, but as a key enabler of human security, especially when local and global actors collaborate to close the digital divide.
By reframing peacebuilding to include digital inclusion, this research contributes both a novel theoretical lens and practical policy insights. It supports the PCSJ conference theme by arguing that sustainable peace and just community-building in the 21st century require both physical and digital infrastructure.
Bandwidth and Borders: A Quantitative Analysis of Digital Access as a Determinant of Human Security in Post-Conflict States
While traditional approaches to human security emphasize physical protection, institutional reform, and community healing, this presentation (paper) introduces a less explored but increasingly vital dimension: digital access. In post-conflict societies, access to reliable internet and communication tools can significantly influence the ability of citizens to secure basic needs, receive humanitarian aid, report human rights violations, and participate in civil rebuilding efforts. This study explores whether digital infrastructure—measured through national indicators of mobile phone coverage, broadband penetration, and internet access—can be empirically linked to improvements in human security outcomes.
Using a dataset that merges information from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank Development Indicators, and Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), this study examines 40 post-conflict or fragile states from 2000 to 2022. It tests the relationship between digital access and changes in indicators such as civilian-targeted violence, access to emergency services, and aid distribution equity. Multiple regression models and comparative cluster analysis are used to identify patterns and outliers.
Initial results suggest that countries with higher rates of digital connectivity experienced faster declines in conflict recurrence, increased humanitarian access transparency, and greater local participation in governance processes. These findings position digital equity not only as a development goal, but as a key enabler of human security, especially when local and global actors collaborate to close the digital divide.
By reframing peacebuilding to include digital inclusion, this research contributes both a novel theoretical lens and practical policy insights. It supports the PCSJ conference theme by arguing that sustainable peace and just community-building in the 21st century require both physical and digital infrastructure.