Cybercolonialism and Digital Geopolitics
one-way Exclusions
Seminar, private study
Please note that course information listed in the Arts and Science Course Calendar supersedes any information listed on the Sociology website.
For the most current course offerings, registered Queen’s students should consult SOLUS.
Course Description
This course examines geopolitical control over digital data and ICTs, exploring how they lead to exploitation and marginalization of specific areas and populations. It connects analog and digital "othering" practices, highlighting power imbalances in data extraction and predictive analytics. We will investigate emerging subjectivities like data scientists, cybalterns, and artificial intelligentsia and examine how technological authority shapes and redefines information. The course also links historical settler colonialism with neocolonial and digital colonial impacts on diverse geographies.
Learning Outcomes
- Have a deepened understanding of cybercolonialism, its historical roots, and contemporary manifestations.
- Critically evaluate the ways in which digital technologies perpetuate or challenge colonial structures, hegemonic power dynamics, and information asymmetries.
- Analyze case studies and diverse perspectives to comprehend the intersections between technology, globalization, and post-colonial theories.
- Develop the capacity to propose strategies that address the ethical, social, and political implications of cybercolonialism in the digital age.
- Improve their text-based analysis, visual presentation, and writing skills.