PBAF537A -- OVERVIEW

Introduction
From rural villages in Africa to global governmental summits, interest in the potential of information and communication technologies to address the problems of economic and social development in the world's poor countries has exploded in recent years. This field has become known as “Information and Communication Technologies for Development,” or ICT4D for short. We've all heard about the much heralded successes - farmers securing higher payments for their crops thanks to online market prices; radiologists in Asia reading x-rays for hospitals in America; e-government systems that have reduced corruption; and remote eye exams via telemedicine applications. The question remains: is the information revolution fundamentally transforming political, economic and social systems in the developing world? Is the "global information society" an inclusive one that embraces the poorer countries of the world?

This graduate level class examines how countries in the developing world are attempting to achieve knowledge-driven progress. What are the central debates about the role of ICT in national development? What policies are countries pursuing to promote ICT-driven development and with what success? What are local communities doing to solve specific social problems with ICT, and how are these efforts being evaluated? What is the role of international institutions and multinational corporations? Finally, what has been the impact of ICT on democratization, human rights and local cultures?

This seminar addresses the role of ICT innovations in socioeconomic development in developing country contexts. It has two primary aims: i) to offer a critical, historical survey of the essential theory, scholarly literature, and research methods relevant to its topic; ii) to review the current debate on the grand substantive questions of this emerging field.

This course is inherently multidisciplinary. It draws from political science, information science, communication research, rural sociology, and public policy analysis. The topic of this course is analyzed from different levels, including individual, community, national, and international levels, and encourages discussion about cross-linkages among these different levels of analysis. In this sense, this course aims at providing a broad perspective of the development process. At the end of the course, students should be able to understand and evaluate the opportunities and challenges involved in the use of ICT in international development programs.

This class is open to graduate students in all departments. No technical experience is required.

Readings
Warschauer, M. (2003). Technology and social inclusion: Rethinking the digital divide. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Available at the University Bookstore

All other readings are available on electronic reserves or links from this class website.

FALL 2006 HOME

Class Details

MW 10:30-11:50
Balmer 414
3 credits

Instructor

Chris Coward
ccoward@u.washington.edu

Office hours by appointment