Digital Transformation of Sub-Saharam African Countries in Historical Perspective: From First Computers to AI-Driven Economy

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Digital Transformation of Sub-Saharam African Countries in Historical Perspective: From First Computers to AI-Driven Economy. / Thomann, Pierre-Emmanuel ; Панцерев, Константин Арсеньевич.

In: Social Evolution and History, Vol. 24, No. 2, 30.09.2025, p. 57-76.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

BibTeX

@article{396e1f23448c41fca4f4adf0dec6a65f,

title = "Digital Transformation of Sub-Saharam African Countries in Historical Perspective: From First Computers to AI-Driven Economy",

abstract = "The development of breakthrough technologies occupies a special place in the national policies of both well-developed and developing countries, as they can represent an effective tool for ensuring sustainable socio-economic development and solving various problems. In this regard, it seems understandable why African countries have declared the development of information technology as one of their top priorities. Thus, this article attempts to analyze the evolution of digital transformation in Sub-Saharan African economies. Finally, the authors conclude that over the past 30 years, African countries have really achieved remarkable results in this area, despite the abso-lute zero, which was observed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But the limited financial and technological resources make African countries extremely dependent on foreign aid to meet their development and this threatens their technological sovereignty.",

keywords = "Sub-Saharan African countries, artificial intelligence, information technologies, sustainable development, technological sovereignty",

author = "Pierre-Emmanuel Thomann and Панцерев, {Константин Арсеньевич}",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "30",

doi = "10.30884/seh/2025.02.03",

language = "English",

volume = "24",

pages = "57--76",

journal = "Social Evolution and History",

issn = "1681-4363",

publisher = "Uchitel Publishing House",

number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Digital Transformation of Sub-Saharam African Countries in Historical Perspective: From First Computers to AI-Driven Economy

AU - Thomann, Pierre-Emmanuel

AU - Панцерев, Константин Арсеньевич

PY - 2025/9/30

Y1 - 2025/9/30

N2 - The development of breakthrough technologies occupies a special place in the national policies of both well-developed and developing countries, as they can represent an effective tool for ensuring sustainable socio-economic development and solving various problems. In this regard, it seems understandable why African countries have declared the development of information technology as one of their top priorities. Thus, this article attempts to analyze the evolution of digital transformation in Sub-Saharan African economies. Finally, the authors conclude that over the past 30 years, African countries have really achieved remarkable results in this area, despite the abso-lute zero, which was observed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But the limited financial and technological resources make African countries extremely dependent on foreign aid to meet their development and this threatens their technological sovereignty.

AB - The development of breakthrough technologies occupies a special place in the national policies of both well-developed and developing countries, as they can represent an effective tool for ensuring sustainable socio-economic development and solving various problems. In this regard, it seems understandable why African countries have declared the development of information technology as one of their top priorities. Thus, this article attempts to analyze the evolution of digital transformation in Sub-Saharan African economies. Finally, the authors conclude that over the past 30 years, African countries have really achieved remarkable results in this area, despite the abso-lute zero, which was observed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But the limited financial and technological resources make African countries extremely dependent on foreign aid to meet their development and this threatens their technological sovereignty.

KW - Sub-Saharan African countries

KW - artificial intelligence

KW - information technologies

KW - sustainable development

KW - technological sovereignty

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/d8b7e429-d787-3a7b-9359-ee8c123d89f2/

U2 - 10.30884/seh/2025.02.03

DO - 10.30884/seh/2025.02.03

M3 - Article

VL - 24

SP - 57

EP - 76

JO - Social Evolution and History

JF - Social Evolution and History

SN - 1681-4363

IS - 2

ER -

ID: 127605558