Geographical imagination and technological connectivity in East Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID8964274
AuthorsMark Graham (0000-0003-2521-5190, Oxford Internet Institute and School of Geography and the Environment University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3JS), Casper Andersen (0000-0001-8572-0469, Department for Culture and Society (History of Ideas) University of Aarhus 8000 Aarhus C Denmark), Laura Mann (0000-0001-9969-0926, African Studies Centre University of Leiden 2333 AK Leiden The Netherlands)
Year2014
Volume40
Issue3
Pages334-349
Publication date2014-12-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueTransactions of the Institute of British Geographers (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-2754 • E-ISSN: 1475-5661
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/tran.12076
OpenAlexW2031288091
LanguageEN
Citations received29
References cited24

This paper analyses and compares two transformative moments of technologically mediated change in East Africa, the construction of the Uganda railway between Mombasa and Lake Victoria (1896–1903) and the introduction of fibre‐optic cables that landed into the ports of Dar Es Salaam and Mombasa in 2009. The paper uses discourse analysis to examine how technologically mediated connectivity has been represented by political and economic actors during these transformative moments. In both cases we explore the origins of the expectations of connectivity and the hope and fear associated with them. Building on Massey's notion of power‐geometry and Sheppard's concept of positionality, the paper focuses on power relationships in discussions of connectivity and asks how people understand the abilities of transformative technologies to modify positionalities and alter relational distance and proximity. Ultimately, by examining historical and contemporary expectations of connectivity in East Africa, this paper works towards more grounded and historicised understandings of the coming‐together of technology and connectivity

Economic geography · Geography · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Sociology · Transformative learning · Work (physics · African history and culture studies · Engineering · ICT in Developing Communities

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