ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL ETHICS IN PEACEBUILDING

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally transforming the epistemic and operational dimensions of peacebuilding through innovations in geospatial conflict forecasting, humanitarian coordination, and digital dialogue facilitation. However, the application of algorithmic governance in fragile societies introduces acute ethical and political risks concerning algorithmic bias, responsibility attribution, data sovereignty, and digital equity. This paper rigorously examines the intersection of AI and digital ethics in peacebuilding, emphasizing theoretical and empirical insights. It explores the dual-use potential of AI and how it can either amplify systemic structural violence or foster genuinely transparent and inclusive peace architectures. Drawing from multidisciplinary literature and critical case examples across Africa, Asia, and Europe, the paper rigorously interrogates the balance between technological efficiency and moral responsibility. It posits that sustainable peace in the digital era necessitates the integration of ethical AI frameworks rooted in human rights, local political ecology, and decolonial understandings of justice to realize Galtung’s vision of positive peace. The paper concludes with strategic policy recommendations for responsible AI governance, emphasizing co-design and contextualized digital ethics.