Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet Worldwide

by Pippa Norris

Overview

There is widespread concern that the explosive growth of the Internet is exacerbating existing inequalities between the information rich and poor. Digital Divide sets out to examine the evidence for access and use of the Internet in 179 nations across the world. A global divide is evident between industrialized and developing societies. A social divide is apparent between rich and poor within each nation. And within the online community, evidence for a democratic divide is emerging between those who do and do not use Internet resources to engage, mobilize and participate in public life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521807517
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/24/2001
Series:	Communication, Society and Politics
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.87(d)

Table of Contents

Part I. Introductory Framework: 1. The digital divide; 2. Understanding the digital divide: wired world; 3. Social inequalities; Part II. The Virtual Political System: 4. Theories of digital democracy; 5. e-governance; 6. Online parliaments; 7. Virtual parties; 8. Civic society; Part III. The Democratic Divide: 9. Cyberculture; 10. Digital engagement; 11. Conclusions: promoting digital democracy.

Editorial Reviews

"This path-breaking study in comparative political communication deserves a wide audience and is vital reading for anyone interested in the political impact of new information technologies." Press / Politics

"...Digital Divide is one of those rare works that can fairy be labeled as groundbreaking..." Governance

"It will likely become a standard in its area during the next few years." Bruce Bimber, University of California, Santa Barbara

"In this valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion about the effect of the Internet on social, political, and economic life within and between nations, Norris offers a general model to describe developments thus far.... Norris makes a valuable contribution to understanding the present situation, offers a descriptive model, and hints at future trends in an intellectually worthwhile manner." Choice

"Pippa Norris in Digital Divide presents an extensively documented, well-reasoned, carefully argued, and well-balanced analysis of the role of the Internet..." Perspectives on Politics

"Digital Divide is exciting, thought-provoking, and engaging...I expect it will make its way into future generations. If you read only one book on this topic, make it this one." Edward J. Valauskas

From the Publisher