The tools of social change : a critique of techno-centric development and activism
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
New Media and Society
Publication Date
2-2017
Volume
19
Issue
2
First Page
255
Last Page
271
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Keywords
Activism, agency, ICT4D, networking, orgnets, participation, skill, social change
Abstract
Generally, the literatures on Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) and on networked resistance are evolving isolated from one another. This article aims to integrate these literatures in order to critically review differences and similarities in the techno-centric conceptions of agency and social change by political adversaries that are rooted in their socio-technical practices. We repurpose the critique of technological determinism to develop a multi-layered conception of agency that contains three interrelated dimensions: (1) “access” versus “skill” and the normative concept of inclusion; (2) fixed “system” versus “open-ended network” and savoir vivre; and (3) “institution” versus “extra-institutional network” and political efficacy. Building on our critique, we end by exploring the political possibilities at the intersections of conventional institutions or communities and emerging, extra-institutional networked formations.
DOI
10.1177/1461444815604419
Print ISSN
14614448
E-ISSN
14617315
Publisher Statement
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Servaes, J., & Hoyng, R. (2017). The tools of social change: A critique of techno-centric development and activism. New Media and Society1 19(2), 255-271. doi: 10.1177/1461444815604419