Customer Reviews

The Deepening Divide: Inequality in the Information Society

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Mr. van Dijk is one of the world's leading authorities on the digital divide - the phenomenon that may or may not be leaving people behind as society becomes computerized and connected. Here van Dijk rewardingly adds to our understanding of the many possible nuances of the digital divide, which goes far beyond physical access to computers. Despite the pronouncements of politicians and idealists who believe that everyone around the world will be zooming down the information superhighway as soon as they get a connection, van Dijk proves that things are not so simple. In fact, the divide might be closing if one only looks at the physical aspects, but the divide is actually deepening for those who are still unable (or unwilling) to get on board. This is due to many unappreciated social, cultural, political, economic, and motivational factors faced by those who might even have physical access, and van Dijk tackles all of these with great insight and complexity. This book is held back by a repetitive writing style in which van Dijk keeps introducing what he's going to talk about later, then almost before you know it he's summarizing his findings. But van Dijk redeems the book by closing with specific policy recommendations for different areas of the globe, even if they are a little wishful politically. [~doomsdayer520~]