 | Issue: | Asia-Pacific I 2001 |
| Article no.: | 9 | |
| Topic: | Social and Developmental Impacts of the New Information Era in Asia | |
| Author: | Dr Peter Boulding | |
| Title: | Editor | |
| Organisation: | Connect-World, UK | |
| PDF size: | 24KB |
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Article abstract
s the Information Revolution only for the Rich? All we hear is talk of the pace and acceleration of change. The “white heat of technology” was a memorable phrase used by Harold Wilson, a British Prime Minister of the 1960s, in an effort to capture the mood of the moment that still resonates today. Nowhere is the pace of change more evident than in the world of telecommunications, information and the Internet.
Full Article
This is the new paradigm and paradox of global development where technology, information and speed all rush ahead, mingled with a blur of computerised jargon. The paradigm is that set of like-minded opinion formers of the developed world for whom the boundaries of knowledge and technology are the frontiers that they push ever forward on a daily basis. The paradox is that the further forward the frontiers are pushed the further behind the great mass of the poor are left behind. I mean here the really poor, those who have nothing, not just the technologically or informationally deficient who may have chosen not to take advantage of their opportunities. I would like to explore here some of the issues arising from the global information explosion and tentatively suggest some measures that governments and information corporations might like to consider in order to spread the benefits of these revolutionary opportunities. I recognise that what is needed is a combination of will (on the part of governments and those being governed), access to resources and just plain luck or opportunity, something which we all need a little of. Although it may sound trite, what I believe most strongly is required is a holistic approach that takes account of the needs of all the major participants: supra-national bodies, governments, the private sector and consumers. Maybe all that is really needed is a little thought and consid-eration for the wider impacts of various strategies. Social needs: going beyond subsistence We all have a deep seated need to communicate. At times in our lives we also have a deep seated need to learn, to gather information, to grow and find out what we are on the planet for. For many people such thoughts are luxuries that cannot be considered until the basic requirements of food, shelter and procreation have been satisfied. Thus there is a strong human drive to live, learn and work in any particular time or place. I would suggest that today this would involve full participation in the information revolution. The need to give and receive messages is both social and spiritual, we need to speak and to listen, then to evaluate. We need to reflect on what weve heard and then react and respond. Our whole philosophical understanding is shaped by our interaction with those around us and the environment. Thought is developed by communication and interaction. Descartes shaped Western thought with the phrase: I think therefore I am, emphasising the fundamental importance of thought to self identification. The pace of the new information paradigm may be creating its own special sets of social needs in both rich countries and poor. In developed countries the overall benefits may be vast in economic terms but may involve personal problems of overwork, stress and separation from families and loved ones as the incessant demands of individualism unfold. In poor countries the digital divide may be present on a number of levels. The divide may exist between rich and poor nations and also exacerbate the differences between rich and poor people within nations. The pace of the information revolution and the investment demands required of it may mean that poor countries and regions may increasingly be excluded from even partial participation. It seems to me that there is therefore a strong argument on social grounds for the benefits of the information revolution to be as widely shared as possible, but with a proper understanding of some of the associated side-effects. Economic and Developmental needs It has been said that capitalism thrives on inequality, particularly on taking advantage of inequalities of information. I remember well from my University days the Durham Miners banner which read Knowledge is Power. In the case of the spread of and access to the Internet the economic benefits of encouraging mass participation have direct parallels with the Universal Service Obligations of telecommunica-tions regulation of the 1990s. Going well beyond the societal needs of universal service was the economic consideration that the more subscribers a network had the more economically viable it became as more opportunities for connectivity exist. Surely the same principle applies with the information revolution? The more people are connected and actually use the Internet (and associated networks) the greater the size and depth of the potential market. Including the very poor might not initially create a mass consumer market for luxury goods but it could provide sources for raw materials and establish new trading links. In time the growing markets will become more affluent as Internet access assists in identifying more outlets and opportunities and new users become more familiar with Internet information and trading opportunities. Access could be organised by local people on a co-operative basis with initial start-up funding from international agencies, NGOs or local government sources. There might be opportunities for sponsorship or support from existing internet participants, for example, as part of regulatory planning gain benefits from being allowed access to more lucrative locations. Two of the main sectors for international development have traditionally been education and health. Both sectors could benefit substantially from the widespread introduction of the information rev-olution. The education sector in the west already uses information technology and the Internet widely as sources of information and teaching aids. Obviously the higher up the educational ladder a student progresses the wider the applications become. The origins of the Internet lie in the academic world to the degree that even as a social science postgraduate of the mid-1980s I can remember using the Joint Academic Network (JANET) to send text to other academics across the world. Although a relatively long term project education creates markets because it contributes directly to economic development, increased incomes and therefore increased spending power. Many private companies regard economic development as a public sector activity, the province of government or supra-national bodies such as the Asian Development Bank or the World Bank. This is quite a short-sited view for economic, public relations and altruistic reasons. As stated above, economic development creates markets and markets create opportunities to sell. Many companies recognise the public relations benefits of being seen to put something back into society or towards addressing economic failures in developing countries. In some circumstances companies have made strenuous efforts to provide decent living conditions for their workforces partly for altruistic idealism but also because of the simple need to ensure a healthy, contented workforce. This was a feature of some nineteenth century British companies but has now taken on the form of the creation of Foundations by some companies and individuals for recycling the profits made from their activities. Government and Regulatory responsibilities Governments and regulators have critical responsibilities when faced with the information revolution. The first responsibility is not to just freeze when faced with such a dynamic market driven phenomenon but to participate fully in the activities as they unfold. It is clear that governmental and regulatory bodies will have to make great efforts to understand and facilitate flexibly the new paradigm. This will require an engagement with the private sector probably on different terms than previously. There will be many temptations, particularly to show preference to the existing incumbent fixed line telecommunications operator. Privatisation is becoming increasingly irrelevant as the pressure is far more to liberalise (indeed, some notable Asian countries have used liberalisation as a lever for incumbent privatisation, on the survival of the fittest principle). Probably one of the most important measures to be taken is the creation of a genuinely independent regulatory structure that will allow for fair market access to all qualifying competitors and not impose unrealistic content burdens. At this moment in time there is much attention on the system of auctions for third generation licences. I will not repeat what has been said elsewhere on this, but it is interesting to note how many Asia-Pacific countries have opted to avoid auctions. A key regulatory theme is the necessity for private sector firms to make a reasonable rate of return, to enable the companies to continue to exist and therefore provide the required service. Some of the very high prices paid in (particularly European) auctions may well jeopardise operators abilities to finance their businesses. It is very tempting for governments and regulators to view all profit as a bad thing and not the essential motor of private sector development that it is. Above all governments and regulators must give due consideration to the need to respond quickly to the dynamics of the market. There is no market developing more rapidly than this one and governments must take measures to ensure prompt and effective decision making whilst keeping sight of the totality of the needs of their populations. I have only singled out a few of the more important governmental and regulatory issues for consideration here, there are plenty more and some more as yet unheard of. The individual: Whose Responsibility? The information age is the age of the individual or has the individual been left behind in the corporate rush? Information technology has had many impacts on individuals so both of these positions are true. There has been a notable rise of individualism as part of the information revolution, particularly among lone individuals working on the Internet. It is an activity that promotes solitude and associated introspection, particularly when combined with home working as it may so often be. This could have serious impacts on societies where collective activities and interactions are the norm. Hopefully the transition to an information society can be managed so as to avoid too much isolation and take full advantage of the communications benefits it brings. Home tele-working can bring many individual benefits that should outweigh the disadvantages. Large successful corporations are not inimical to the development of the individual and proper use of the Inter- and Intranets can act to promote corporate values and incorporate appropriate degrees of loyalty. If the goals of the individual member of staff match those of the corporation and they are in harmony with their business environment there is every likelihood of success. Staff development can be enhanced by an atmosphere of mutual trust and responsibility which is enhanced by unrestricted access to the Internet. There may also be benefits in encouraging staff to undertake research using the Internet because of oppor-tunities for lateral thinking and product development. If staff are treated responsibly then it is likely that they will react responsibly and act accordingly. It depends very much upon the type of organisation and its products the degree to which and how far Internet access will be benign. Conclusion Perhaps the most obvious point to end on is that much of the shaping of the social and developmental attributes depends on you as the individual as a consumer. As a consumer (and maybe provider) of many of these products and opportunities your choices and decisions can shape and develop the way the information age will unfold. It will be down to you to decide individually and collectively how far the benefits of the information age will reach. I would suggest that there are many benefits to be gained from making the information society as large as possible.
