Papers Presented

	This paper was jointly authored by me and my wife Michelle, it was selected to be presented at the IAMCR (International Association for Media and Communication Research) held at Taipei, Taiwan in 2003.
	Title Information Society & Glocalization - What Next: A digital divide and cyberspace perspective
	Authored by : Asil Gerard Sylvester and Michelle Gereldene Sylvester, University of the Philippines, Philippines
	Complete Paper can be downloaded from : Virtual Conference Page

INFORMATION SOCIETY & GLOCALIZATION - ABSTRACT
The internet has been eagerly taken up by societies and groups across the globe as a fast and cheap way to mobilize, exchange information and strategize, building on already existing modes of networking. But in the light of recent events it is important the we stop and look at what is happening with the use of the internet in the context of the shifts within the development discourse. What are the cultural, economic, social and political implication of the internet? How is the internet affecting and changing international relations? What are the divides it is creating between the majority of the worlds people living in poverty, where the daily struggle for livelihood is paramount, and information and access is for the rich? Are civic groups being seduced by new technologies in ways that are blinding us to the political implications that underline the internet as we use it to further our local and global (glocal) political organizing? There are no easy answers to these questions. There are practical examples of how the internet is being used around the world to build knowledge networks, to lobby and create mass support for different economic and social justice, and to create new cross cultural connections. We aim to provide an analytical framework in order to understand how these experience are creating new forms of global communication. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are not a luxury, but are a critical factor in opening the door to knowledge, wealth and power. The divide between digitized and non-digitized countries defined as the "digital divide", is the lack of infrastructure, unfavorable regulatory environment, pricing and market structure, and this threatening to exacerbate the existing social and economic inequalities between countries and communities. The cost of inaction is therefore greater than ever before. To break this "vicious circle" and address the digital divide problem, several initiatives have been developed at the international level. The digital opportunity task force (DOT force), whose efforts is complimented by the UNICT Task force in poorer economies, has stressed the necessity to "improve connectivity, increase [ICT] access and lower cost" The International Telecommunication Union is taking the lead on this particular objective and proposes a project to provide low expensive and simple technology such as VSATs with the aim of engendering a "virtuous circle" which can help to reduce the cost. Only after overcoming all the above mentioned few obstacles can we build a proper information society and glocalization community.