Developing statizens: biometric technologies and digital identification

In what follows, I elaborate on one of Appadurai’s key points (2021): that the concept ‘statizen’ highlights global right-wing state re-articulation through digital identification. order to do so, instrumentalise argument is characterised by ‘centrality bureaucratic documentation as sole and over-riding criterion citizenship’ ‘success in defining a state-issued document basis all life’ (Appadurai, 2021). Taking this discussion making ‘statizens’ forward, consider two contemporary cases identification rollouts governments power Jamaica Kenya instances deployment ‘biometric imaginaries’ belonging (Donovan 2015). Together, these illuminate salience focus anthropologies transformation, resistant practices imposition initiatives how postcolonial nationalism informs perspective statizen-making forms surveillance, technosoloutionism lean governance. McKinson’s (2019) article takes its controversy surrounding, resistance to, Jamaican government’s 2017 announcement attempted rollout National Identification System (NIDS). Situated surveillance studies, critique NIDS grounded decolonial shift challenges ‘merging body technology predicated state-legitimised techniques branding, control’ (2019: 734) an example Arora (2016) has called datafication This approach studying illuminating for emphasis performed, spatio-temporal archive with special attention societies Global South (McKinson 2019: 735). The popular understood McKinson be ‘a collective psychic reaction black carcerality society’, drawing national imaginaries entangled religious, musical, liberatory discourses connect planned earlier colonial control 736). Resistance articulated terms bridged domestic experiences transnational assemblage sourced funding from US-dominated Inter-American Development Bank (Dunn 2020: 333). so doing, presents compelling case possible nationalism, offering Caribbean counterpoint nationalist democratic contention ‘Nationalism – white, brown or yellow no longer end but means, means installation anti-democratic regimes’ (2021). Jacobsen’s (2020) explores turn towards biometric voter registration (BVR) Kenya, new liberal technique interventionism, noting use BVR increasingly widespread, except countries actively promoting it. By connection, Jacobsen overlays further coloniality are shown technocratic intervention technical experimentation, rather than serving their stated objectives democracy promotion. Weitzberg’s origins regimes imperial circulations technologies reinforces point, stresses racialised subjectivities process chain embodied practices, … [or] rituals’ (2020: 32). Addressing technosolutionism11 Recalling Morozov’s definition ‘technosolutionism’ ‘Recasting complex social situations either neatly defined problems definite, computable solutions transparent self-evident processes can easily optimized’ (2013: 5). BVR, attentive much included within problem-frame obscured, arguing widespread ‘roll-out we seeing contours modality, which places greater strategies resolve political challenges’ (Jacobsen 128). To illustrate, notes significant politics excluded apolitical problem-frame, pointing purges, displacement fraud onto other aspects voting creation gatekeeping opportunities electoral corruption 129). Moreover, Kenyan issue illicit financing elections completely obscured BVR-problem frame, where instead adopting solution confidence contestation was displaced trustworthiness actors systems, potential outside interference voters. Such objects suspect voters resonates constitute relations they reflect them 34). insight important it central claims reliability, transparency accountability projects like politicising ‘provision “neutral”, procedural assistance’ 138). above have illustrated systems shortfalls practice entanglement politics. While recent judicial review legislation permitting Indian Aadhaar, Huduma Namba programmes promises some oversight 2020), same parties remain each committed implementing transformational initiatives, invested technosolutionist modernisation theories. Through cases, both draw advance centrality agendas secure state. focusing politicisation Kenya. considered highlight politically polarised erased rationalities, obscure ‘technocracy itself ideology’ (Morozov 2013: However, identity frames profoundly ambivalent, challenge heritages technosolutionism while deepening polarisation obscuring allegedly neutral, modernising bases.