And lastly, through the paper's focus on domestic migration, which is far more common than movement across international borders, I add fresh insights to the literature on technology and "social remittances" in an understudied type of case. (ends)
The findings add to longstanding debates in the African politics literature about the significance of urban-rural divides, pointing to ways in which rising domestic connectivity, or "urban-rural linkages", might reshape them. (14/n)
The argument also represents a new twist on a much older story in the political science literature, centred on the significance of close social networks as a source of political information. (13/n)
The article speaks to ongoing debates about the politics of technological change, particularly in lower-income settings where its marginal impacts are likely most profound. (12/n)
These findings were fleshed out in focus group discussions, which highlighted the political relevance of long-distance phone calls. They also documented the incentives of urban relatives to downplay the economic benefits of city life, to deter requests for financial support from relatives. (11/n)
Using an original survey, I also find that phone use is associated with greater discussion of the economy, corruption, and politics with relatives. (10/n)
Using panel data and questions about contact with specific family members over time, I show that “non-physical” interaction with urban relatives rises significantly as rural households gain access to a phone between waves. This directly shows that phones increase urban-rural connectivity. (9/n)
I complement these aggregate effects with more fine-grained evidence from Ghana, using a household panel, original survey, and qualitative data to examine mechanisms. (8/n)
I find that entering coverage reduces rural trust in government, across a range of institutions of the state. This effect is driven by those living geographically further from urban centres, and in countries with relatively greater pre-existing urban-rural attitudinal divides. (7/n)
I triangulate several pieces of data to support for the argument. First, I draw on Afrobarometer surveys and mobile coverage maps from across the African continent, locating survey respondents as in our outside coverage over time in a difference-in-differences setting. (6/n)
For rural households, phone calls represent repeated exposure to negative information about politics and the economy from their urban kin. This information runs counter to their prior beliefs and comes from a trusted source, meeting several conditions under which it should shift opinion. (5/n)
I suggest that rural households use mobile phones to keep regular communication with relatives who have migrated to towns and cities. This is politically consequential, as urban areas across Africa tend to be significantly less trusting of government and so provide new, negative, information. (4/n)
I focus on the most common way in which mobile devices are used in Africa: making and receiving domestic phone calls with friends and relatives. This is much more widespread than access to mobile internet or social media, which are more studied but used by far fewer people. (3/n)
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the world’s poorest region, some estimates suggest 9 in 10 people now have access to a mobile device. But despite significant focus on the economic impacts of this “mobile revolution”, we know little about how it matters for domestic politics. (2/n)
The paper is motivated by rising mobile phone access around the world. This represents a rapid shock in our ability to send and receive information, but, unlike other types of information or media technology, is strikingly homogeneous and without clear income gradient. (1/n)
Absolutely delighted that my paper “The political consequences of Africa’s mobile revolution” is now Early View at @ajpseditor.bsky.social ! Quick thread (1/n) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Really happy to see this out!
Oh great!! sorry still getting used to the new technology
Any chance I could be added? Thanks!!
Any chance I can be added? Thanks!
Can help with the phone part! Not sure how to DM here but can you send me an email?
Please can you add me? Thanks!
Hi @profmusgrave.bsky.social please could you add me to the polsci feed? Thanks!
