Information Society – review of the concept

What we’ll cover Information Society concept Using the concept WSIS and IS Challenging the paradigm Conclusion

Info Society – what is it?

Whole point of WSIS “To reach a common understanding of what this means” “To develop a plan to achieve it” So, it is a goal – but perhaps one that is partly achieved in some places.

One definition: “An invention of the needs of globalisation by capitalism and its supporting governments” It comes with ideological baggage There should not be one model of what it should look like. Editors of Media Development, journal of the World Assoc for Christian Comms. Speculative hoax – Pasquali (Reader 2)

At the heart: “information” See Tapscott, Postman, Amelan, Camacho. Data, information, knowledge, wisdom, communication. Braman: Commodity? Resource? Network?

Conceptualising the IS What would it refer to? Write a definition Frank Webster: Technological definition Economic definition Occupational definition Spatial definition Cultural definition

1.1 Technological definition Characterise a society by its key means of production: Stone Age, Iron Age, Steam Age Now, Information Age IT is a key means of production Info = the raw material + product. Eg. modern farming now hinges on this.

Technological definition Limitations: Is IT really key, is it different to the Electricity Age? (note: “IS” concept predates the Internet). Are “old” media part of ICTs and IS or not? Unhelpful to describe a whole society by reducing it to its means of production. Technically determinism - implies that the technology determines the society, rather than vice versa.

1.2 Economic definition Information is a tradeable commodity with financial value. Information industries contribute a growing percentage of GNP. The modern value chain is determined by the application of information at various stages.

Economic definition Limitations: Collapse of Internet businesses and troubles in Telcom - “old-industry” commodities are still essential (people cannot live on info alone!) Are the categories of relations of production, no longer relevant? (For eg. neoliberal capitalism, social-democratic capitalism, state socialism, etc.?) Doesn’t distinguish useless from economically valuable information.

1.3 Occupational definition Increasing numbers of people in jobs dealing with information – lawyers, data capturers, accountants, brokers, media, public relations, education, politics, entertainment, tourism, etc. Service industries become bigger employers than the industries they serve with information!

Occupational definition Limitations: On a global scale, not necessarily the case that there are more info-workers; Mining, industrial and agricultural work is re-located in the Third World, (though increasingly low-level info work is also). Surely, information has always been a factor in all jobs. Is a tour-bus driver in the information sector or not? The concept is fuzzy.

1.4 Spatial definition Space and time constraints are overcome by information networks (Manuel Castells) Information nodes and hubs (eg. Wall Street stock exchange) determine the state of the global economy Interconnectedness and interdependence is due to the speed and spread of information flows.

Spatial definition Limitations: There have long been linkages, eg. global post and telecoms - what’s so new that we need a new name to describe society? How much really has space & time shrunk? Increasing congestion on info networks, Increasingly congestion in terms of physical movement (airports, cities). So is it convincing to proclaim an Info Society by claiming that Info Networks have negated space and time?

1.5 Cultural definition There is now a ubiquitous presence of information in our society. Previous generations were not exposed to brands in the same way as today. Huge mass of info we see and hear daily defines & shapes our self-identities. It affects our politics, public life, politics, clothes, tastes, aspirations and dreams.

Cultural definition Limitations: Does this ubiquity deserve neutral label of “Information” Society? Why not “Entertainment”, or “Commercial Images” Society”? Does the term “cultural imperialism” fall away? Is our imagined image of Information Society Times Square Broadway! What about contestation around cultural dominance? Paradox of more info, less meaning.

My view: The use of the term “Information Society” can highlight, and draw attention to, significant features: Role of IT and information as means of production Importance thereof in occupational structure Importance thereof in national economies Importance thereof in global networked systems Importance to cultural life

But: It is not a “scientific” concept. It detracts from a number of other important issues: Other factors of production (energy, land) “Old economy” industries (food, cars, etc.) People doing menial and manual labour Cultural contestation Real distance and time issues Diverse economic and political systems

Main thinking IS points especially to positive ICTs Managed liberalisation (market overseen by state) is seen as the route to reach universal access and solve problems of poverty Community empowerment

Often sidelined (a): While ICTs are romanticised, the following may be marginalised: Questioning the power of information, Misinterpreting problems (eg. war, child abuse) as a simple lack of information. What kind of information defines IS? What relevance, what reliability? What language and what accessibility?

Often sidelined (b): The political issues: Who produces, owns and uses info? Who distributes and who gate-keeps? Gender, race, class, rural issues in production and consumption? Whose info is it, at what price does it come? How free are people to produce & receive it? Access to info in the public domain? Role of info and media in (and after) Iraq war. Are we now in the Disinformation Society?

Where journalism and media fit in. Definitely sidelined! Where communication fits in to Info Soc… Where journalism and media fit in.

Salvage potential: “Information Society” has strong currency. Strong mobilising concept – like the phrase “sustainable development”, led to a UN Summit. “IS” puts items on the agenda (eg. infrastructure, education, governance, work processes, info flows) which need policy responses. It draws special attn to the “network of networks” – the Internet, and its effects (see ITU Reader 2) “WSIS” invites us to take part in international policy formulation in regard to what this “Info Society” could be like (Gillwald, R2).

2. WSIS and IS

How WSIS approaches IS "It must be a true meeting of minds, bringing together all stakeholders from the developed and developing world.” “It must have a common understanding of the Information Society and a concrete action plan." ITU Secretary General, Yoshio Utsumi

Progressive rhetoric “The real goal is not just to get more computers or more telephones, but rather to extend access to information, to guarantee the right to communicate and to focus on how ICTs can be used to achieve broader social and economic goals, such as the eradication of poverty.” ITU leader, Yoshio Utsumi  

How WSIS approaches IS Summit should concentrate on: Vision, Access, Applications NOTE: Orientation document for Prepcom 2 “Information and communication for all” Adama Samassekou, president Prep Com

Issues within the document Access Roles of govt, business, civil society Capacity building Enabling environment Policy making Copyright

Issues within the document Privacy Security Language, culture, local content Proprietary vs open source software ICTs in good governance, transparency Originally missing: right to communicate!

Document: on development Call for ICTs to be mainstreamed via: E-learning E-health E-government E-business ICTs for disaster recovery Agric, population, environment, weather

Draft proposals: Benchmarks to be adopted? All education instits to be connected 2015 All hospitals by 2005, clinics 2010 90% people in range of broadcast 2010 All govt depts to have website by 2005 ICT development index to rank countries? Publicise good practice & successes? Train info workers.

WSIS declaration Final declaration indicates WSIS moving away from technological determinism where IT is presumed to affect society much more than society affects IT. Also toning down the technophilia stereotype which unquestioningly assumes that ICT growth is automatically a good thing.

WSIS declaration But no explicit definition of IS! Yet, will have impact on global public opinion and policy: Eg. telcoms regulation Eg. donor policies Eg. World Bank practices. On freedom of expression & media growth?

3. Paradigm of info-haves and have-nots

Dominant paradigm Info Society thinking tends to work with a Info-Haves, and Info-Have-Nots model. It assumes that some countries are already Information Societies, or close to that status, while others lag behind in ignorance. Africans are assumed to be Info Poor, Americans/Europeans as Info Rich. Solution: build bridges to let Africans come and share. Presto: problems all solved.

Dominant paradigm The idea that (ordinary) Africans have something to say, and contribute, is absent. Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, and culture, is undervalued. The recognition that the Info Rich are ignorant is missing.

Changing the paradigm A different view sees Africa’s people not as entering the Information World, but has helping to transform it. Not only as consumers of other people’s knowledge, but as producers their own right. Thus, help to shape a global world that takes cognisance of issues otherwise not necessarily on the table.

Changing the paradigm Thus, an African contribution to shaping an Information Society could highlight: Priority for info/coms to promote peace Priority for info/coms to put an end to poverty, Need for abolition of racist information, Importance of promoting values of community, not only individualism, Ackn importance of traditional and “old” media.

Changing the paradigm An African contribution to shaping an Information Society could also highlight : Rejecting info imperialism and colonialism, Respect for minority languages & culture, Info to engender solidarity with global victims of wars, famines, repression. But: there is a danger of exploitative info-mining! Intellectual property is an issue!

4. Conclusion

Re-capping Info Society defined by: Tech, Economics, Occupation, Space, Culture Info Soc as concept highlights some things, … and detracts from others. WSIS has an embedded interpretation an opportunity and a policy influence. Paradigm of Info Soc needs challenging.

Here to stay IS as a concept is “up for grabs”. Many varying emphases. Challenges on the cards ….

Thank you