Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World: An Emancipatory Manifesto

Why do so many efforts to use digital tech to help the world’s poor ultimately end in failure? This book provides a detailed critique of previous theory and practice, whilst also proposing practical and realistic suggestions for good practice.

This book combines longer thematic chapters by Tim Unwin, one of the world’s leading thinkers on ICT for development, with shorter vignettes from other experts across a range of different practical, intellectual, and geographic backgrounds. The book argues that the global geo-politico-economic agendas associated with the use of digital tech in development in late-capitalism raise pressing issues around instrumentalism, individualism, and empowerment. This context drives short-termism and an innovation fetish around current hot topics, such as EdTech, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence. The world’s poorest and most marginalised people are failing to benefit from the use of digital technology, whilst the world’s digital barons continue to accrue great wealth. Unwin emphasises the importance of crafting a responsibilities agenda that will shift the dial, enabling practitioners to avoid common pitfalls and transform good intent into good practices. This book is a highly readable guide for the global community of development practitioners, government officials, and civil society organisations involved in delivering digital tech initiatives.

Students from across the fields of international development, computer science, electronic engineering, geography, and economics will also benefit from its expert insights.

Tim Unwin is Emeritus Professor of Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK, where his research-practice has focused especially on the use of digital technologies by the world’s poorest and most marginalised people. He is the Founder of the ICT4D Collective (2004-present), was Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in ICT4D (2007-2023), and served as Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (2011-2015).