The Politics of Access to Information

Author(s):  
Shefali Virkar

Over the last few decades, unprecedented advances in communications technology have collapsed vast spatial and temporal differences, and made it possible for people to form connections in a manner not thought possible before. Centred chiefly on information, this revolution has transformed the way in which people around the world think, work, share, and communicate. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) promise a future of a highly interconnected world, wherein action is not limited by physical boundaries, and constrained physical space is replaced by a virtual ‘cyberspace' not subject to traditional hierarchies and power relations. But is the promise of ICTs chimerical? To tackle these issues, central to the global policy debate over the potential development contributions of Information and Communication Technologies, and to examine whether and the extent to which disparities in access to ICTs exist, this book chapter provides a demonstration of the ways in which ICTs may be used as tools to further global economic, social, and political advancement, to shape actor behaviour, and to enhance institutional functioning; particularly in the Third World.

Author(s):  
Shefali Virkar

Over the last few decades, unprecedented advances in communications technology have collapsed vast spatial and temporal differences, and made it possible for people to form connections in a manner not thought possible before. Centred chiefly on information, this revolution has transformed the way in which people around the world think, work, share, and communicate. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) promise a future of a highly interconnected world, wherein action is not limited by physical boundaries, and constrained physical space is replaced by a virtual ‘cyberspace' not subject to traditional hierarchies and power relations. But is the promise of ICTs chimerical? To tackle these issues, central to the global policy debate over the potential development contributions of Information and Communication Technologies, and to examine whether and the extent to which disparities in access to ICTs exist, this book chapter provides a demonstration of the ways in which ICTs may be used as tools to further global economic, social, and political advancement, to shape actor behaviour, and to enhance institutional functioning; particularly in the Third World.


2020 ◽  
pp. 437-468
Author(s):  
Shefali Virkar

Attracted by the new Information and Communication Technologies, actors across the world have adopted computer-based systems for use in government as a means of reforming inefficiencies in public administration and public service provision. This book chapter, through the study of an electronic property tax collection system in Bangalore, India, seeks to unravel the social dynamics shaping similar e-government initiatives. The research upon which this chapter is based analyses prevailing actor behaviour, motivations, and interactions; examining not only the interplay of local contingencies and external influences acting upon the project's implementation and transformation, but also the disjunctions in these relationships which inhibit the effective exploitation of ICTs in the given context.


Author(s):  
Shefali Virkar

Attracted by the new Information and Communication Technologies, actors across the world have adopted computer-based systems for use in government as a means of reforming inefficiencies in public administration and public service provision. This book chapter, through the study of an electronic property tax collection system in Bangalore, India, seeks to unravel the social dynamics shaping similar e-government initiatives. The research upon which this chapter is based analyses prevailing actor behaviour, motivations, and interactions; examining not only the interplay of local contingencies and external influences acting upon the project's implementation and transformation, but also the disjunctions in these relationships which inhibit the effective exploitation of ICTs in the given context.


Author(s):  
Maryna Demyanchuk

Information and telecommunication services are currently a full-fledged resource for social development compared to traditional resources. The growth of the level of scientific and technological progress has led to the incredibly fast development paces in the sphere of information and communication technologies, which has a significant impact on the development of the economy. On the basis of a thorough analysis of the sectors of information and communication technologies and components of the ICT development index, the article substantiates the need for accelerated digitization of the majority of enterprises of different spheres of economic activity with the aim of qualitative development of Ukrainian economy in order to increase its competitiveness in the world. This is explained by the fact that information and technology represent the main economic resource in the period of formation of information society and digital economy, and enterprises of the sphere of communication and informatization are a catalyst for social and economic development of the country as a whole. Using a methodological toolkit of the theory of systematic and correlation-regression analysis, an economic-mathematical model of the development of the sphere of communication and informatization in the regions of the world and individual countries of the world is constructed. It is based on the existing pattern of leading development of the communications sector, but takes into account the degree of economy dependence on the ICT development, which in some regions and countries is 100%. This is due to the approaching mass availability of ICT services in some countries in these regions. On the basis of the constructed model, the forecasting of GDP PPP per capita was carried out, which showed faster rates of growth of the country’s economy with the growth of the development level of the sphere of communication and informatization and accessibility of telecommunication services. In turn, the availability of telecommunication services is influenced by the digital skills of society and the level of their prices, which has necessitated determining the dependence of GDP PPP per capita on prices for communication services of countries with varying degrees of socio-economic development. This makes it possible to identify reserves for improving the productivity of individuals while increasing the availability of telecommunications services.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-62
Author(s):  
M. V. Bikeeva ◽  
K. V. Belash

Purpose of the study. Information and communication technologies are becoming a powerful tool for the development of electronic business. Today, the leaders in the global economic and political space are precisely those countries that have learned to determine the vector of development of information technologies and use new opportunities for their application. The development of innovative digital technologies in Russia and in the world is widely discussed in the framework of various discussion platforms. In particular, at the International Forum “The Digital Future of the Global Economy” (January 31, 2020 Almaty), digitalization of trade processes between the EAEU membercountries became one of the main topics. The annual Tech Week conference (Moscow) is becoming a traditional place for discussing the implementation of innovative technologies in business, as well as for the exchange of experience of leading Russian and world corporations in the field of electronic business. In this regard, there is a need for a comprehensive statistical assessment of the development level of electronic business of the territory.Materials and methods. The research was based on the data of the Federal State Statistics Service for 2018 for the regions of the Volga federal district, and the results of monitoring the development of the information society in the Russian Federation. As a tool for assessing the degree of digitalization of business in the regions of the Volga federal district, the graphic polygon (radar) method is used.Results. The article provides a retrospective analysis of the stages of development of electronic business in Russia. Among the characteristic features of the modern stage of its development are the mass introduction of Internet technologies and the transformation of traditional business methods. The introduction of advanced information and communication technologies contributes to greater involvement of the business sector in electronic business. In terms of the level of development of information and communication technologies (ICT Development Index), Russia ranks 45th among the countries of the world. For the period 2010 - 2018 the development of electronic business in Russia has a positive trend. According to the results of 2018, the volume of the Russian e-commerce market amounted to 1280 billion rubles, or 4.1% of the total trade turnover. According to forecast estimates, by 2023 the volume of Russian e-commerce market will grow to 8.5% of the total turnover and amount to 2780 billion rubles. An integrated assessment of the development level of electronic business was carried out according to sixteen local criteria. As a result of calculating the private and local ranks of the values of the relevant criteria, fourteen polygons of the level of development of electronic business were constructed by the number of regions of the Volga federal district. The results obtained allow us to state the existence of a high degree of heterogeneity of the regions of the Volga federal district according to the integral indicator under study. Among the leading regions in terms of electronic business development are the Republic of Tatarstan, Perm krai and Nizhny Novgorod region. Outsider regions – the Mari El Republic, the Republic of Mordovia, and the Kirov region – are characterized by a low percentage of organizations that used the capabilities of the Intranet and Extranet, the absence of special software for managing sales of goods (works, services), and limited use of software, in particular ERP, CRM and SCM systems.Conclusion. The widespread use of information and communication technologies entails the expansion of opportunities and improving the quality of coordination of business activities. We should remember that if modern business cannot quickly adapt to the new requirements of the digital economy, then it risks becoming uncompetitive. The results of the study revealed a differentiation in the development of electronic business in the regions of the Volga federal district. A similar situation is observed in most constituent entities of the Russian Federation and is due in many respects to specific reasons for each region. The timely fulfillment of the goals and objectives of digital transformations in the Russian Federation reflected in the Digital Economy of the Russian Federation Program and other regulatory documents will help to smooth out the existing imbalances.


Author(s):  
Lisa Kervin ◽  
Jessica Mantei ◽  
Jan Herrington

In this chapter the authors discuss two central themes: the changing nature of literate activity brought about by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and suggestions for how educators could respond to this guided by principles of authentic learning. The access many young people have to ICT has resulted in new forms of literacy as they manipulate technology, using this new knowledge to assist the process of meaning making. Each new technology brings with it navigational concepts, space to negotiate, new genres and a range of modalities, all of which need to be interpreted. ICTs have the potential to reshape literate practices in classrooms as students create, collect, store and use knowledge as they connect and collaborate with people and resources across the world. What is crucial though, is that the nexus between technology and literacy within classrooms is conceptualised through meaningful, relevant and authentic connections with curricula.


Legal Ukraine ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 16-23
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Sosnin

Scientific discussion of the problems of transformation of the legal foundations of state institutes of scientific and educational institutions under the influence of the development of information and communication technologies (ICT) and innovative thinking of people is extremely relevant and complex at the same time. Various scientific knowledge has been lacking for a long time, however, today, when the development of creative, moral, innovative potential of each person and humanity as a whole has become a priority for any individual and society, has become the most important, generalizing indicator, criterion of national development. To be taken more systematically and responsibly. Information has always and everywhere been valued as a jewel, on which huge financial resources were spent to acquire its media, have always been important. With the advent of radio and television and, ultimately, modern ICTs, it has increasingly become a product that has always been in demand and also sold well, which, unfortunately, has helped turn the miracle of human communication into a monster — a weapon against the sustainable. development of mankind, the protection of which requires deep knowledge of the human psyche, the laws of society and decision-making algorithms. The nature and meaning of the world, covered by various technical means of communication, are increasingly of interest to society, however, the information and communication sphere, as a geocultural phenomenon and force of influence, began to form not so long ago, around the XVIII century, gradually acquiring geocultural weapons. Again, under the influence of the development of ICT, it has become a pervasive force in the twentieth century, and having acquired network methods of use — a weapon. Today it is becoming the most important factor in the transformation of the world order in the structure «matter (people) — energy (finance) — information — a resource for development». This is how the state and legal policy and the realities of the interaction of the countries of the world with each other and, accordingly, the citizens with the government are built, forcing them to look for new ways of evolution of the economy, military affairs, public power, etc. Using new ICTs, the world’s leading countries are constantly updating their scientific and educational sphere, increasing the requirements for professional training of young people in their universities, trying to form an open society with a responsible attitude to social values, more fully define the responsibilities of public authorities, and it is in this direction that the problems of the formation of modern statehood are concentrated. Key words: information, informatization, information and communication technologies, information and communication security, information and communication activity, information space, information war, humanities, scientific and educational policy, information legislation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Emetarom Aduba ◽  
Victoria O. Odegwo ◽  
Obiora Kingsley Udem

This paper aims at establishing the effectiveness of physical academic libraries in a digitally-evolved world. It tends to explore the priorities of academic libraries in line with the changing global environment. Data was gathered through desk research and content analysis approach. Data generated from analysis of literature were augmented by brainstorming and interaction with professional colleagues from different academic libraries within the south-east geo-political zone of Nigeria. The paper described the physical library and nature of academic libraries with reference to the digital world, explain the attributes of the digitally-evolved world and need for transforming physical academic libraries in line with changing global space, highlight the constraints to the effectiveness of academic libraries in a digital world, discuss the keys to effective services delivery in physical academic libraries as it relates to the digital world and outline the prospects for the physical academic libraries in a digital world. The implications for librarians in the digital world were described. The paper concludes that most libraries are still at the analogue stage and that despite the overwhelming influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on the services provided by libraries, the physical space of the academics libraries is still relevant.


2015 ◽  
pp. 1452-1473
Author(s):  
Ana-Cristina Ionescu

The Internet is definitely the most complex and dynamic technical and cultural phenomenon that humanity ever experienced. Nevertheless, despite its positive impact on the Western world, Web 2.0 has yet to prove its power in the undeveloped regions of the globe, where the Internet Era is still at its dawn. In developing countries, the barriers that women face, such as poverty or social imbalances, establish significant challenges that hinder connectivity and access to modern technologies. In this context, the chapter discusses the evolution of gender speech in relation to new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The authors determine whether the declarations and plans for action that were issued subsequent to the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing enhanced the establishment of gendered policies on ICTs, particularly in the undeveloped regions of the world, and whether, in this way, they empower women, contribute to combating women's poverty, and promote gender equality.


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