Building Peace in a World at Conflict: The Role of Educational Technologies

As we are faced with growing levels of conflict both between countries and within countries, we will review the ways that technology is being used to promote peacebuilding in schools. The chapter highlights the ways that the contact hypothesis has been used as a theoretical framework to help in the design of programmes intended to bring together young people who would otherwise lead separate and parallel lives. The chapter draws on empirical data in Northern Ireland, Israel, and other parts of the world to show how technology is creating purposeful contact between young people from different communities and deepening their appreciation of others’ perspectives. It concludes by arguing that although the unregulated use of the Internet can exacerbate tension between different groups, well managed programmes have shown a range of significant benefits for both teachers and young people. The authors suggest that the thoughtful use of Artificial Intelligence in peacebuilding, still in its infancy, has considerable potential in reaching a global audience.