Information Society and Development: The Kerala Experience

Book Details:

• Author: Antony Palackal

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• ISBN: 8131601528

• Pages: 234

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches

About the Book:

The book explores the intersection of the digital revolution and its global impact on information and communication technologies (ICTs), which have reshaped patterns of learning, cultural expression, and social participation. These advancements have expanded the scope of development opportunities worldwide but also created a stark digital divide, where unequal access to these technologies divides the technological haves and have-nots.

Set against the backdrop of the World Summit on Information Society (Tunisia, 2005), the volume delves into how ICTs can function as tools for social development, especially in marginalized regions. It specifically focuses on Kerala, a state in India that has gained attention for its unique development model. By illustrating Kerala's efforts to bridge the digital divide, this scholarly work analyzes e-science initiatives in the region and how they are woven into the larger global discourse on development and knowledge production.

This book is an important contribution for social scientists, development agencies, activists, e-professionals, and policy makers, offering valuable insights into the integration of ICTs in regional development and the global context.

About the Author:

Antony Palackal is a faculty member in the PG Department of Sociology at Loyola College of Social Sciences in Trivandrum. He is also the India Coordinator for the World Science Project.

Wesley Shrum is a Professor of Sociology at Louisiana State University, USA, and Secretary of the Society for Social Studies of Science. He manages the World Science Project and coordinates its global initiatives.