3 - What Does the Fourth Industrial Revolution Mean for Africa?

Summary

A growing number of researchers have focused on Africa’s capabilities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Some scholars have analyzed the impacts of mobile internet and broadband on the continent, while others have researched initiatives such as smart cities and the implications of the 4IR on development and manufacturing. Others have touched on the opportunities present in African development and the types of innovation that are already present or can take place. After reviewing the literature, the chapter dives into five critical domains on which the 4IR will change African states, industries, and society. These five domains are economic growth and structural transformation; labor, skills, production; poverty and inequality; power and governance; and peace and security. The chapter concludes with the five key domain summaries and strategies that can be employed in Africa.