[Sigiii-l] Fwd: [GKD] Book About the Information Society in Africa

[Michel J. Menou]

I am quite sure many members will be interested in this book.

Best regards,

Michel J. Menou             mailto:Michel.Menou at wanadoo.fr 

This is a forwarded message
From: Gert Nulens <gnulens at vub.ac.be>
To: gkd at phoenix.edc.org
Date: Friday, December 6, 2002, 2:51:38 PM
Subject: [GKD] Book About the Information Society in Africa

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FYI - Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly
filtering through into every day lives of people throughout the world.
However a lot of people are lagging behind regarding their access to
these ICTs and the underlying infrastructure; and regarding their
capacity to afford, maintain and use these ICTs. This is creating a
digital divide which can have far-reaching consequences. For ICTs give
access to information. This information can lead to knowledge. And
knowledge is a prerequisite for development. Therefore ICTs are
considered to be promising technologies that can be one of the tools to
stop the ongoing underdevelopment of some regions in the world.

In the book 'The digital divide in developing countries: towards an
information society in Africa' the editors have brought together a
selection of articles centred around the changing communications
landscape and the digital divide in Africa. Some authors point at the
possibilities of ICTs for Africa to become part of the global
information society. Others are warning for too optimistic scenarios and
are arguing that the way to go is long, difficult and problematic. In
general this book is presenting an overview of the different discourses
and scenarios linked to the information society in Africa.

The book is published by VUBPress, Free University Brussels in
co-production with SMIT (Studies on Media Informationan and
Telecommunication) and UN-ECA (United Nations - Economic Commission for
Africa).
ISBN 90 5487 310 8 (Europe)
ISBN 92 1 125084 6 (Africa)
Email: vubpress at vub.ac.be

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Gert Nulens, Nancy Hafkin, Leo Van Audenhove and Bart Cammaerts

Part I: Scenarios towards an Information Society in Africa

Telecommunication and Information Society Policy in Africa. The dominant
scenario reassessed.
Leo Van Audenhove, Gert Nulens, Jean Claude Burgelman and Bart Cammaerts

Globalisation and the Information Age:  Role of the African Information
Society Initiative
Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane


Part II: Challenges and Opportunities of ICTs in Africa

Globalization and the Information Economy: Challenges and Opportunities
for Africa
Catherine Nyaki Adeya and Derrick L. Cogburn

Policies and Strategies for Accelerating Africa's  Information
Infrastructure Development
Michael R. Jensen

Democratizing Access to the Information Society
Aida Opoku-Mensah

Information and Communication Technologies for Improved Governance in
Africa
Bhavya Lal, Gary Gaumer and Salamao Manhica


Part III: Case studies: Practises and Policies in Africa

Using Information and Communication Technologies for development at
centres in rural communities: lessons learned
Pieter Conradie

Information and Communication Technologies and African Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs)
Aida Opoku-Mensah

Foundations for an Information Society in Zimbabwe
Eric Mazango

The Information Society in Egypt
Sherif Kamel

Postface: The African Information Society Initiative: Origins and
Assessment
Nancy Hafkin


Kind regards
Gert Nulens


---------------------------------------------------------
Gert Nulens
Researcher SMIT
Studies on Media, Information and Telecommunication
Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Free University Brussels
Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: ++32 2 6292413 - Fax: ++32 2 6292861
E-mail:  Gert.Nulens at vub.ac.be
http://www.vub.ac.be/SCOM/smit/smit.html
---------------------------------------------------------


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