Paper by Matthijs Rutten
Matthijs Rutten is graduate student Integrated Communication Management at the Professional School of Communication Management in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He worked as a communication and research intern at the Institute of Network Cultures for the international work conference Incommunicado 05. This event was organised by the INC, in cooperation with Waag Society and De Balie in Amsterdam and the Delhi-based media centre Sarai. The international character of the Incommunicado project corresponds with his international orientation; before and during his study Matthijs spent several months in South America, South East Asia and the Middle East.
For this research, in which he reveals the threats and opportunities of the engagement of private capital in ICT4D Matthijs has travelled to India.
A PDF of the research paper can be downloaded here. The author can be contacted through the Institute of Network Cultures, info(at)networkcultures.org.
Introduction
“Are the Intels, the Nokias and the big boys in IT seeking ways to track / bluetooth (–as a verb), systemize, and then capitalize? Are the new targets P2P, open source? Secondly, are these all a part of a larger effort to map ‘innovative’ terrains that may threaten their own products and markets? Are these trends reflective of new ways of social control when inter-linked with GIS based mapping? (….)Thus, one of the main issues is seen as to how to ‘map culture’, as a way to transform these into new markets – but not before the ‘designers’ had a go at it, adding that special touch.”
(Benjamin: 2005)
My internship at the Institute of Network Cultures (research institute of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Interactive Media) introduced me to the topic of ICT for development. The internship consisted of the production of the working conference Incommunicado 05. This research is conducted as part of the internship.
During my internship I’ve learned to understand that there is no common definition of the term ‘ICT for Development’ (ICT4D). In order to generate a better understanding of my research essay it’s important to outline and describe my vision of ICT4D. ICT4D is the application of different types of ICTs to contribute to the elimination and/or reduction of the growing digital divide between the North and the South. It builds the view that access to information and knowledge is a major precondition for improving the position of the poor and – at a higher level – for creating properly functioning democracies, as formulated by Hivos. Access to information and knowledge is becoming an indispensable tool for poverty reduction and development aid for societies in development areas.
Because of my economical background (student Integrated communication management, former professional school of economics HEAO) I am especially interested in a more economical approach of the contemporary development aid. Can a sustainable outcome of development aid be realised, and does the interference of private capital bring self-sustainability? The open letter to John Thackara (director of Doors of perception) by Solomon Benjamin, stimulated me to start this research. Benjamin questions the motive of multinationals in the world of ICT4D. Are they providing a certain form of development aid, or are they just mapping new cultures in order to transfer them into new markets? (Benjamin: 2005)
This question emphasizes my exact personal motive to conduct this research. What is their true motive to get involved in ICT4D projects? Are they merely transforming cultures into new markets? Or will the interference of private capital contribute to sustainable development aid? Does their interference affect the local culture in a harmful way? To investigate this topic I travelled to India. To achieve my objectives I conducted interviews with Solomon Benjamin and Aditya Dev Sood and other people in the field ICT for Development and visited different types of ICT for Development projects.
The current rise of ICT for Development (ICT4D) is becoming an increasingly important program line for several governments and institutions. Providing people with access to information and knowledge through the implementation of ICT in development areas, is being globally applied to improve the living standard of communities in development areas, and is seen as an indispensable component of a thriving democracy.
An additional tendency shows an increasing number of multinationals emerging in the field of ICT for Development. At the same time governments and institutions involved in development aid, often regard the local culture as an important resource, or starting point for development aid. The fact that these two program lines occur simultaneously, feeds the assumption that ICT and ICT4D shouldn’t affect the local culture in a harmful way. But is this correct? Or do the different strategies of poverty reduction hinder each other? And is there a difference to distinguish, when it concerns a (commercial) sponsored project? Which role should private capital play in the process of development aid? Is the increasing number of multinationals involved in development projects creating new opportunities (access to new capital) or are they just mapping new cultures in order to transform them into new markets, and should we be suspicious about these developments?
Matthijs Rutten, January 2006