Political Effects of Cyber-culture Digital Divide & Democracy Africa The case of Africa

Global Media and Communication Leapfrogging in many occasions is attached to a new technology In the western Culture, every decade celebrates a new technology Negroponte (1996), compared the unprecedented development of ICTs to changes brought about by the printing machines or the invention of writing. There is a great concern on the assumption that economic development can be fostered by the use of ICTs or the assumption that they can foster the direct participation of people in political decisions. The problems of culture and identity are analysed in their relation to development and technological change. Ironically enough no body is telling us how will this happen. So such thing can lead to further conclusions, most often attributed to the financial benefits of ambitious ICTs providers.

Perceived benefits of ICTs Through ICTs intellectual content is developed, information circulated and ideas and objects exchanged. ICTs can advocate democracy and progress As Stated by Bedi (1999:10) - Benefits are numerous… but perhaps the most being portrayed as the economic growth, agricultural and industrial productivity, efficiency of public administration and participation in democracy. In 1996, the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa launched what it called the African Information Society Initiative (AISL, 2003). AISI has been conceived as ‘an action framework’ which is ‘the basis for information and communication activities in Africa’ (AISI 2003) This lead to the promotion of democracy (‘electronic government). This can be viewed to an extend as the e-government in Malta *.

Leapfrogging in Africa

Do all people have access ? The first obstacle identified by researchers is the enormous gap existing between African countries and the developed World. Castells (1998:92) – There are more telephone lines in Manhattan or in Tokyo than in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. Jensen (2002) estimates that internet users in Africa are: 1 user for every people In North America and Europe : 1 user for every 2 people. A major concern in Africa is the extreme poverty of many African countries. Castells notion was echoed oppositely cause according to the World Bank report (2005) – Africa has had a rapid adoption of the internet and cell phones. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Africa is now ‘the world’s fastest growing mobile market (2005) Although these developments are favourable signs, there are very clear gaps between areas in Africa - one finds the extremes all over central Africa.

Leapfrogging : the facts Mobile Phones in Kenya and other parts of central Africa were the preserve of the wealthy elite. In 1999 there were fewer than 24,000 subscribers. In 2005 there are 4.6 million subscribers. Many of the new subscribers could not afford a landline and yet they had subscribed. Tribesmen draped in red ropes and with swords strapped to their sides linger outside mobile phone shops. Traditionally these Tribesmen walk for hours through rolling hills but today, more and more are making telephone calls, text messages, scratch cards for airtime – all of this has become part of their everyday lives. Landline services have been very expensive for decades but now thanks to the much needed liberalisation around Africa, companies such as Vodafone, MTN and Celtel offers very competitive prices to potential subscribers.

Is Africa ready for all this ? At least twice a week the line would go dead – the structure within is still not capable for a consistent access. Authorities sometimes cut the lines on purpose. But Why?? many think that this happens to push subscribers to pay more bribes There are gap inside the countries, with disparities existing between rural and urban settings, men and women, and the educated and uneducated. Expanding ICTs to rural communities is very challenging because of lack of energy (electricity). Solar energy is being suggested (another leap frog) Another problem for Africa is the fact that locals could not access information about local resources and activities. Simply because there is lack of local content – another problem here being the language. The cultural effects could be enormous –just take in consideration the influences that occurred with the inclusion of movies, radio and TV.

Is ICTs ready for Africa ? ICTs should be used to process and transmit locally produced content. They also should help local people interact in their own cultures through their own languages. However there are efforts for starting the wheels rolling : software in African languages, automatic- translation software, online dictionaries for African languages and more have been created and are managed by many projects.

Identity, Culture, Gender and cyberspace Identities can be affected by the use of ICTs because individuals have to think about themselves in new ways. African elites are trying to monopolize even though they face a contradictory process: due to the drastic fall in prices of services and devices. It is not the technology that shapes social structures but rather social structures and external conditions of existence, such as they are lived daily, that shape interactions in the virtual world. In Africa there is a gender problem. Females have low access to education. This paternalistic reality makes technology portrayed as a male device, thus many females are afraid to use the technology. Women specific needs and views about technology are not taken in account. Another aspect that makes things worst is the fact that education is in many times underestimated.

ICTs and democracy in Africa Access to technology (ICTs) can foster democratic process in Africa. ICTs can loosen the class, gender and intellectual barriers which used to divide many people in Africa. Maybury-Lewis (1998) – Today, many scattered people find in the internet a way to regain a sense of lost community. In centralized and authoritarian governments in Africa (particularly in French speaking states) – do not allow the emergence and expression of local power. Internet in Africa is aimed to be a tool of liberation but this will never happen if many people are continually deprived from technological means. On the other hand, Internet can be a tool of widening the gap between those who possess everything and those who do not.