Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World
An Emancipatory Manifesto
1st Edition
Published on 2. April 2026
246 pages
978-1-040-69198-4 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
"Tim Unwin's new book digs into some of the deep psychological reasons why our digital interventions so often fail to live up to the promise of being 'for all'. He offers a sobering, even dystopian view of where thingsstand today - yet, at the same time, he inspires with his optimism that we still have the power to shape such technologies for real and lasting good."
Ralph Hertwig, Professor and Director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin.
"This new book raises alarms about really important matters. The gap in digital access and use is getting bigger, and the explicit intent for equality and equity in global initiatives is so rarely there. This powerful book
resonates with many of my own concerns"
Haif Bannayan, Global Director Business Development, The International Baccalaureate.
"Digital transformation is having a major influence on the economy and the future of humanity, but many people in developing countries are still seeing only limited benefits. This important new book challenges us all to think again about how we can ensure that everyone benefits from the use of digital tech. Not only does it provide a sound critique, it also offers a clear manifesto for what we urgently need to do to rectify this."
Torbjoern Fredriksson, Head of E-commerce and Digital Economy, UNCTAD.
More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Reflowable
Illustrations
2 Line drawings, black and white; 20 Halftones, black and white; 22 Illustrations, black and white
File size
22,41 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-040-69198-4 (9781040691984)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 04/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€212.40
Not yet published
Book
approx. 04/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€58.80
Not yet published
Person
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).
Content
Chapter 1. Notes from the Underground Vignette: Working WITH, not FOR Chapter 2. Shifting the Balance: From Growth to Equity Vignette: 'The Tech Will Save Her' - False Promises in Digital Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Solutions Vignette: The Youth-led Imperative Vignette: A Gambian Perspective on Digital Tech and Equity Vignette: Why Persons with Disabilities will Keep on Experiencing Failure Vignette: The Geopolitics of Digital Knowledge Chapter 3. A UN System Co-opted by the Interests of Global Capital Vignette: Reinventing Travail: ICT in Basic Education in the Philippines Vignette: Is it Really More of the Same Since WOUGNET's Inception in 2000? Vignette: Beyond the Token Seat: Rethinking Youth Inclusion in Global Forums Vignette: Retreads: Pushing New Rocks up New Hills Chapter 4: The 'Me' Syndrome Vignette: It's About Who Built it - And Who Didn't Vignette: Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On Vignette: The Right People, Building Things They Understand, and Striving to Deliver Directly for Citizens Vignette: How May Academics Help to Empower Marginalised Communities Through Digital Tech? Chapter 5: The Innovation Fetish Vignette: kiwanja.net: Memories of Innovation for the Most Marginalised Vignette: Digital Tech and the Unbanked: The COVID Pandemic in Brazil Vignette: The Power of Micro-Transactions Vignette: The Digital Privatisation of India's Administration Vignette: Evidence-driven Decision-making in the Use of Digital Technologies in Education Chapter 6: On Freedom and Digital Enslavement Vignette: Social, Shared and Sustainable: Whatever Happened to the Community Internet? Vignette: Spinning Digital Cotton to Counter Digital Colonialism Vignette: Learning from Land Rights so Data Rights are Right from the Get Go Vignette: The Exploitation of Young Women: Digital Tech at the Heart of the Immoral Economy Vignette: Beyond the Cable: 'The embrace of Co-designed, Plural Futures' Chapter 7: Towards Emancipatory Responsibilities and Actions Vignette: The Right to Repair Vignette: It's About What Technology Can do For Society Vignette: a Digital Life Well Lived for Others
