Summary

Globalization is the newest form of evolution for our modern day, thriving, socioeconomic populace. WTO policy worsens the digital divide, resulting in a renewed and modernized imperialism favoring multinational technology interests pushing toward new dependencies predicated on information. Against this modern imperial backdrop Africa needs methods of global involvement which transcend the normative assumptions which currently marginalize this region most in need of the massive leverage afforded by technology. Technology is getting faster, more efficient, and a definite necessity for social existence in this age of Globalization. Without achieving connection to the systems of globalization, places like Africa will not survive this newest form of evolution.

One of the greatest problems with effective use and creation of ICTs in Africa is the lack of relevant skills and literacy. The literacy rate is a mere 55%. Africa's main problem, aside from financing and literacy, is the lack of bandwith capacity. It must pay a third party country for use of their bandwith capacity, and most internet account (ie. .com/.net/.etc) are owned by U.S. Many of the sites on the internet are in the English language, which will be of little or no use to a country that has difficulty educating its own language to its population. Recently, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has implemented agreements that will force Africa to give up control of what little control they have over internet, and send it to multinational corporations. This will help saturate the country with the digital world.

Removing access to ICTs from the realm of social conditions and moving it to the market will not eliminate unequal access. The information gap is expanding with WTO activity because without government aid the poor won't be able to afford access. The information age should allow more citizens around the world access to information and channels of communication; however instead of having everyone's voice heard, the big and powerful are using this information to reproduce and grow what they already have. A type of imperialism has emerged where major powers are now competing for markets and territories; yet unlike in the past where warfare was used, now access and control of technology is being used to fight this battle.

Part of the issue with the technology gap is that most of the reseach being done is taking place in the industrialized countries. The isolation of the less developed countries is leaving them cripled to improving their capability to inhance their technology. Neccessary steps are being made to try and help bridge the gap of these countries by the United Nation Commison on Science. Also, the develpoed countries are starting to help these other countries out to connect all of the countries, as they should be.

Africa needs to open up access to information and communication technologies without getting caught in the misguided pursuit of bridging the digital divide. First, Allowing outside interests to mandate the deployment and implementation of these technologies bears risks to education, health and knowledge. Second, World Trade Organization reform will improve Africa's chances for success in the "democratization" of communication and technology. Third, individual states within the greater continent may enjoy greater national control and follow the proposed Afro-centric strategy. For this uniquely African approach technology is the tool not the goal. Development goals in which technology will enhance efficiencies and leverage global information access justify the tools. Universal Access has not been the focus of WTO efforts, instead pushing toward a market based system. Deep democracy is an unlikely benefit of a market driven system. Intellectual property rights potentially hinder free expression and development of ITCs therefore Africa needs direct ownership of network infrastructure. Existing financial arrangements exacerbate the existing dependencies. Solutions can include debt cancellation or debt discharge. High Tech production may be prohibitive in terms of hardware manufacturing, but content is key. In the development of content the homogeneous nature of a globalized may be a trap worth avoiding. Without literacy, these technology and communication efforts are futile, so basic educational initiative underpin any efforts. Related to the literacy issue, perhaps a more basic consideration, is that language is a barrier given the technical hegemony of English and European languages.

The New Imperialism & Africa in the Global Electronic Village Full Article

Stage Summaries

Stage Summary: Pages 11-14

Technology is getting faster, more efficient, and a definite necessity for social existence in this age of Globalization.
Now that every facet of life is capable of being interconnected for the greatest efficiency, global society is in need of restructuring to get everyone the same opportunities...starting with locations like Africa.
Without achieving connection to the systems of globalization, places like Africa will not survive this newest form of evolution.

Stage Summary: Pages 15-17

• According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Africa has about 2.55 landlines per 100 people while the rest of the world has 15.36.
• Of the total 20,043,100 people living in Africa, the majority of their landlines are concentrated in the southern part of the country, which makes the actual ratio of landline / per person significantly lower.
• In 2000, only 26 of the 47 countries in Africa had a penatrationof basic ICT access of greater than 1%.
• The best technological penetration of Africa is radio.
• One of the problems with effective use and creation of ICTs is the lack of relevant skills and literacy.
• The literacy rate in Africa is only 55%.
• Africa accounts for 0% of ICT production.
• The annual cost of internet use per 20 hours is 5.26% of GDP per capita in South Africa. It is 51.53% in Zimbabwe and 55.13% in Nigeria. The population of Africa simply cannot afford internet.
• Africa's main problem, aside from financing and literacy, is the lack of bandwith capacity. It must pay a third party country for use of their bandwith capacity.
• Most internet account (ie. .com/.net/.etc) are owned by U.S.
• Many of the sites on the internet are in the English language, which will be of little or no use to a country that has difficulty educating its own language to its population.
• By 1999, 13/55 African governments and 12/45 parliaments were online.
• The World Trade Organization has implemented agreements that will force Africa to give up control of what little control they have over internet, and send it to multinational corporations. This will help saturate the country with the digital world.

Stage Summary: Pages 18-20

- Removing access to ICTs from the realm of social conditions and moving it to the market will not eliminate unequal access.
- The information gap is expanding with WTO activity because without government aid the poor won't be able to afford access.
- The information age should allow more citizens around the world access to information and channels of communication; however instead of having everyone's voice heard, the big and powerful are using this information to reproduce and grow what they already have.
- A type of imperialism has formed where major powers are now competing for markets and territories; but unlike in the past where warfare was used, now access and control of technology is being used to fight this battle.

Stage Summary: Pages 25-27
Africa needs to open up access to information and communication technologies without getting caught in a misguided notion of bridging the digital divide.
First, Allowing outside interests to mandate the deployment and implementation of these technologies bears risks to education, health and knowledge.
Second, World Trade Organization reform will improve Africa's chances for success in the "democratization" of communication and technology.
Third, individual states within the greater continent may enjoy greater national control and follow the proposed Afro-centric strategy.
Goals for Africa:

• Technology is a tool and not the goal. Development goals in which technology will enhance efficiencies and leverage global information access justify the tools.
• Universal Access has not been the focus of WTO efforts, instead pushing toward a market based system. Deep democracy is an unlikely benefit of a market driven system.
• Intellectual property rights potentially hinder free expression and development of ITCs therefore Africa needs direct ownership of network infrastructure.
• Existing financial arrangements exacerbate the existing dependencies. Solutions include debt cancellation or debt discharge.
• High Tech Production may be prohibitive in terms of hardware manufacturing, but content is key. In the development of content the homogeneous nature of a globalized may be a trap worth avoiding.
• Without literacy, these technology and communication efforts are futile, so basic educational initiative underpin any efforts.
• Africans will fail to join the digital community without direct communication. Language is a barrier at this point given the technical hegemony of English and European languages.

Raw Notes

The New Imperialism & Africa in the Global Electronic Village

Raw Notes: Pages 11-14

• Globalization enables world wide transport of information and communication pertaining to the market success and capital.
• The World Trade Org. is establishing ICT’s in developing countries.
• Not everyone has equal access to modern components, causing the digital divide.
• Imperialism is on the rise.
• Africa has remained connected to its colonial roots and international attempts are being made to extinct the digital divide with virgin markets as their priorities and get everyone on the same digital page.
• Technology is getting even faster, more thorough, and more accurate as well as smarter while it also becomes more cost efficient.
• Old services have been enhanced while new services are extraordinary.
• The internet-GEV (Global Electronic Village) is the center of information technology and essential to forward progression.
• Now that everyone and everything is virtually connected, society is in need of a restructuring.
• Where does Africa fall into this new technological world space?
• A county’s connectivity determines its success or integrating and benefit from globalization.
• Africa is falling short.
• Globalization brings about greater interaction on many levels. Societies, cultures, institutions, and individuals.
• The world is becoming a single lucrative yet brutally competitive marketplace.
• Globalization shrinks the world via time and space between.
• Globalization is changing national policy towards increased conformity.
• WTO global governance
• Roles of ICT’s: provide pathways for the world to be brought together among time and space, speedy flow of information and market intelligence at low cost, provide links for more efficient organization, easy and speedy movement of capital.
• Globalization stimulates international trade of goods and services.
• Africa suffers disconnection to these goods and services such as online education, telemedicine and international bandwidth.
• Outsourcing as a pro for corporation.
• ICTs provide a platform for globalization
• Benefits of globalization are not evenly distributed across nations and people.
• Access to technology, bargaining powers, relative strength of its economy.
• Africa is at the bottom of the ICT ladder.

Raw Notes: Pages 15-17

• Africa has about 13 telephone landlines less per 100 people than the rest of the world
• Most of the ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) in Africa are in South Africa, which makes their landline per 100 people ratio even less.
• in 2000, only 26 African countries had 1% + penetration
• radio has the best penetration in Africa
• relevant skills + literacy = effective use and creation of ICTs
• 55%: literary rate in Africa
• 2.1 %: technical graduates (56% in developed countries)
• annual cost of internet use per 20 hours is 5.26% of GDP per capita in South Africa, 51.53% in Zimbabwe, 55.13% in Nigeria
• Africa has low bandwitch capacity - they must pay third-party countries for their bandwith
• accounts for 0% of ICT production
• Internet accounts (.com/.net/etc.) are mainly owned by U.S.
• almost all of the sites on the internet are in english
• 13/55 African governments were online by 1999
• 12/45 parliaments were online
• the WTO has implemented agreements that will force Africa to give up control of what little control they have over internet, and send it to multinational corporations. Will help saturate the country with the digital world.

Raw Notes: Pages 18-20

• Removing access to ICTs from the realm of social conditions and moving it to the market arena will not eliminate unequal access to ICTs because investors will only invest what they are sure will allow them a profit.
• Also, without government aid the poor won’t be able to afford access.
• Therefore, the information gap is expanding with WTO activity.
• GATS and TRIPs are basically handed over to developed countries by the developing countries because the developing countries cannot compete when they are unable to meet their national obligations.
• Since GATS covers education, access to education would be controlled by the market.
• If developing countries are not in control of access to education for their citizens, then this could cause cultural imperialism.
• Since the developed world controls most intellectual property, TRIPs make it very difficult for developing countries to access new scientific knowledge and technology.
• TRIPs will only cause the technological gap between developed and developing countries to increase because the developing countries will remain consumers of the research and technological reproduction that is occurring in the developed world.</p><p>* Telecommunications Agreement – requires states to open up the sector to foreign participation to ensure a fair playing field – governments are not allowed to support local companies operating in the sector
• Things are still not fair, however, because local companies cannot compete with multinationals that have resources, money, and advanced technology. Local companies are then taken over by multinational corporations.
• WTO is becoming a counter force to the UN system.
• First, the issues of human rights and democracy would not get much attention because the focus would be on creating an environment that would generate a profit.
• Second, social services could become more available, but they are likely to become too expensive for most citizens of the developing world, since the market is once again more concerned with profit generation.
• The WTO has an issue with availability and affordability – those who should or would benefit the most from certain programs can either no access them or afford them.
• Third, the WTO is making it harder for states to have their own development agendas and allow their citizens access to development programs.
• The information age should allow more citizens around the world access to information and channels of communication; however instead of having everyone’s voice heard, the big and powerful are using this information to reproduce and grow what they already have.
• This homogenization is the result of three aspects of the distribution of ICTs across nations and people.
• First, those who have better access are more able to have their voices heard.
• Second, smaller platforms have littler or no chance of being heard because larger platforms are taking control of the media.
• Third, some sites are owned by corporations that dominate the economy, and therefore accelerate horizontal concentration.
• Typical of imperialism, major powers are now competing for markets and territories.
• Unlike the past, where warfare was used, now access and control of technology is being used to fight this battle.

Raw Notes Pages 21-23
-assuptions that research for technology would be done in industrialized countries
-new imperialism = stratigize global economy
-isolation does not help with learning or developing more
-efforts to improve
-united nation commison on science
1)
2) the world bank advise the governments on new strategies
3) bridging the gap in untouched markets
4) improve access to ICTs
-developing countries trying to help and encourage locals with bridging the gap

Raw Notes: Pages 24-26

immprovement of connectivity globally, but unequal across countries

industrialised country network growing faster than developing countries

gap between Africa and America

Factors of Failure to Bridge Gap

- do not aim to bridge the gaps but provide access

- treat countries as simple consumers

- have access to things they cannot control

- isolation

- "bridging the digital gap" instead of "universalising access to ICTs"

ICTs must be deployed to make solutions but cannot solve problems

Raw Notes: Pages 25-27
Towards Democratizing Access to ITCs: Conclusion

• Market Force Inadequate - ITCs cannot provide relief for systemic problems, yet they do present leverage for existing or future solutions. International trade volume not a good metric. Market forces antithetical to healthy development, public investment a better alternative using US and Far Northern European model
• Resist Commiditazion of Education, health and knowledge - WTO has the wrong approach to African development, robbing individual states of autonomy.
• WTO Reform - encourage more democratic and accessible WTO. Representative oversight, transparency, UN power restoration.
• Africa Focused ITC
  • ITCs for Development - ITCs for Education, Healthcare services but not missing obvious developmental steps prior to technology deployment. Focus on the task not the tools.
  • Universal Access vs. Market-led ITC - WTO agenda related to market motivated initiatives, yet social welfare should be the force. Markets prevent the deepening of democracy.
  • Local Network Ownership - Intellectual property rights potentially hinder free expression and development of ITCs. Africa needs its own infrastructure.
  • Finance - Existing practice exacerbates the existing dependencies. Solutions through debt cancellation or debt discharge.
  • High Tech Production - Difficult for hardware given current circumstances, but content is key. Avoid the homogeneous nature of globalization.
  • Education - Obviously ITCs are predicated on the need for literacy.
  • Promotion of Native Tongues on Networks - Africans will fail to join the digital haves without an ability to communicate, and language is a barrier at this point given the technical hegemony of English and European languages.