Global+Divide

=Global Divide Definition=

Global divide is one of the three distinct phenomena encompassing digital divide. The others two being: social divide (the divide of internet use within socities and the democratic divide (divide between those who do and do not use technology to partcipate in public life) In short, global divide refers to the **divergence** of Internet access between **industrialized** and **devloping countries**.

The main concern is the notion that countries who are at the forefront of digital technologies (such as Canada, US, Australia, Sweeden, etc.) have the capacitiy to boost their productivity and economy even further, which creates challenge for poorer societies, lagging far behind, to catch up. In other words, productivity gains from information technologies may widen the chasm between the most affluent nations and those that lack the skills, resources and infrastructure to invest in the information society.

Global divide is one of the problems in the network society: "the network society is creating parallel communications systems: one for those with income, education and literally connections, giving plentiful information at low cost and high speed; the other for those without connections, blocked by high barriers of time, cost and uncertainty and dependent upon outdated information" - Norris p.274 (of Information Society Reader)

=General Responses to the Global Divide=

- Cyber Optimists: Believe that technology can eradicate poverty in developing countries, thus aiding in closing the digital divide. (see also //Cyberoptimists//)

- Cyber Pessimists: Believe that adding technology will increase the disparities between nations. (see also CyberPessimists)

- Cyber-skeptics: Believe that new technologies alone will not make any difference. (see also Cyber-optimists, Cyber-skeptics and Cyber-pessimists)

=Democratic Divide=

Right now more than ever Democratic Divide is in position to impact global divide.


 * Impact of digital technology on distribution of power and influence in political systems
 * Insurgent movements: aided by internet to mobilize and express opinions outside of mainstream

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