ABSTRACT
This study has applied the theory of cultural discourse studies (CDS) to know the discourses on the digital divide in the case of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. The digital divide in Balochistan fits well with the objectives of CDS that encourage the rediscovery of discourses at the local level to discover the reasons for lack of peace and development within communities. This study has applied Subject, Intent, Medium, Purpose, History and Culture (SIMPHC) categories to analyze the data collected through twelve semi-structured in-depth interviews to know the effects of the digital divide on the experiences of a community facing ethnic and political unrest through CDS.
It is found that Balochi subjects are stereotyped with biased representation and either labeled as anti-progress or troublemakers. Dummy actors are created to disseminate dominating and hegemonic discourses that are difficult to counter due to unavailability of required digital resources to the natives. Digital technology has created new identities and social relations that have challenged the historicity of power present either internally as the Sardari system or externally between Baloch citizens and power elites in the country. Use of technology by locals is driven by the security paradigm, and economic opportunities presented by digitization are looked at with skepticism due to enhanced surveillance. Limited availability of digital technology has negatively affected the power of local discourses to bring any improvement in political and ethnic conflicts in the area, which has resulted in underdevelopment, unrest and low harmony.
