South African expert was in Praia where he addressed the topic of the impact of social networks on elections. In conversation with Expresso das Ilhas, Victor Shale recalls the difficulties that most African countries experience in each electoral period and argues that the internet and, especially, social networks, despite the problems, have brought benefits both to the organization of elections and the dissemination of results.
Victor Shale was in Cape Verde to participate, at the invitation of the National Elections Commission, in the conference ‘Preservation of Election Integrity in the face of Disinformation and False Information during the Electoral Period’.
During his speech, Victor Shale recalled the difficulties that exist in most African countries every time elections are held.
In an interview with Expresso das Ilhas, Victor Shale explains that “elections are the biggest logistical operation and the most expensive undertaking (apart from a war) in any country”.
Most African countries, he emphasizes, “do not have the resources to organize electoral operations without the support of donors”.
“On a social level, elections are full of emotions that often lead to election-related conflicts. This fact increases pressure on already limited resources, as countries have to guarantee security”, he highlights.
Furthermore, Victor Shale argues that climate change and health problems, as happened with COVID, and now, with Mpox, are another obstacle to holding electoral events.
“Climate change causes flooding and public health emergencies. All of this has a direct impact on the elections because people are displaced. As we saw with COVID-19, there are also restrictions on people’s movement.”
All of this “makes the election campaign a challenge.”
Social networks and information immediacy
In his intervention during the conference, Victor Shale addressed the topic of the role of social networks in electoral processes.
But what is the impact of social networks on the electoral process?
“Social networks have positive and negative impacts on the electoral process. The advent of social networks has allowed electoral commissions to communicate effectively with the electorate”, he says.
Thus, parties interested in the elections, such as political parties, “also reached the target audience more effectively”.
However, social media also has negative consequences, “especially in terms of misinformation and discrimination. Many African countries are faced with problems of disinformation that often affect the integrity of elections and electoral commissions. Misinformation has also been used to victimize women, young people and people with disabilities. This situation has affected their participation in the elections”, warns Victor Shale in this interview, adding that “when we reflect on the media and disinformation we have to be aware of what we would call the multi-crisis of political developments that are challenging the practices established globally on our African continent and in our countries.
Still, even with these negative points, Victor Shale argues that elections “benefit enormously from the communication and transmission of electoral results in real time”.
“This helps to avoid the anxiety and conflicts that often arise due to excessive delays in announcing results. However, the communication of results must be carried out through the legal authority, such as the CNE, to ensure that the information is sufficiently protected”.
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Who is it Victor Shale?
Victor Shale is an expert in elections, conflict management and democratic governance, with over 20 years of experience. He has held senior positions in organizations focused on electoral integrity and democratic processes, such as the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) and the South African Electoral Commission. He holds a PhD in Politics from the University of South Africa (UNISA ) and an MPhil in Conflict Transformation from the University of Port Elizabeth.
Text originally published in the printed edition of Expresso das Ilhas nº 1195 of October 23, 2024.
