The Digital Divide (originally used to describe inequalities of access to the Internet between households in the USA or UK) usually refers to the uneven development of Internet access within a country. A more appropriate term to match those theories that go with globalisation, such as most in the modern day, is the term 'Global Digital Divide' (GDD) which, as you may have guessed, refers to unequal Internet access between countries.
Currently only one third of the worlds 7 billion people are online. Leading experts believe that, in 2011, only 35% of the worlds entire population were online. However, a rather shocking statistic from a recent report called The World in 2011: ICT Facts and Figures, published by the International Telecommunication in Geneva shows that of the 35% of the world who are online, the majority of Internet users are from Developing Countries, with China and India making up 47% of the total share of those developing countries. But is this really that shocking? Thinking about it - no. Because those countries are the ones which are developing the fastest, those are the countries that push technological boundaries and as a result, they use the Internet far more than expected. Furthermore, these countries that are developing understand the importance of technology and the Internet so therefore provide the necessary education to use the web efficiently and effectively. This has proven to be a key reason as to why the number of people who use the web is so high in developing countries. Recent studies show that those who understand how to use the Internet and its facilities are more likely to use it (hence why younger people generally use the Internet more than those in the elder generations) which proves that teaching the skills required is all part of providing access. The sooner those Internet-poor countries realise this, the sooner the GDD will fall to a level that is far more acceptable in today's society.
Sources;
The World in 2011: ICT Facts and Figures, International Telecommunication Union
www.digitaldivide.net
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Globalisation and the expansion of global ideologies.
Globalisation has become what many believe to be a recent phenomenon of the last decade or so (although this has caused divided opinions amongst experts). It can refer to either political, social, economic, ecological or ideological globalisation, but here, I will discuss the Ideological aspects of Globalisation. Ideological Globalisation can be defined, although not limited to, 'the expansion and integration of concepts and ideologies across the globe'.
As Manfred B. Steger put it nicely in his book 'Globalization - A Very Short Introduction' (printed by the Oxford University Press), jihadist globalism has certainly been on the rise recently. And as he also detailed in his book, at the heart of it is Osama bin Laden, the man behind 9/11 and the old-leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
Throughout his time as leader of arguably, the world's most prolific terrorist group, he constantly contradicted himself - claiming that the West were invading Middle-East, not physically invading with troops (although this did happen when President Bush sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan), but in an ideological sense. He saw the US and its allies as planting ideas and innovations in the minds of those around him, in those of the Middle-East. So, as a result, he retaliated and set up al-Qaeda in 1988. But despite the retaliation, he did contradict himself.
Here, as he can be seen talking to the camera, making threats to the US in 2001; he is seen wearing a Casio f-91W watch, made by the Japanese computer firm Casio Computer Co., Ltd. It is also designed and manufactured in Japan, yet is sold globally, so technically, this f-91W watch is a global phenomenon, much like Globalisation and is a symbol of Globalisation, but why is he wearing that watch, if he is against the Globalisation Phenomenon?
We can also see in the background of the image AK-47, a global weapon of choice for many who would need one. The Islamic Extremist is also using a video-camera and microphone to get his message across the Globe, he wants to be seen and wants to be known around the World. But yet he is against Globalisation? Furthermore, to relay this message, it was broadcast on the Al-Jazeera network based in Qatar, yet this is a global network. There's also a high chance that his clothes have been made elsewhere, it's unlikely those clothes were made using local 'threads', so yet again without realising, he's contradicted himself and everything he is against. This is the power of the Globalisation trend, and although he represented those against the expansion and intensification of global ideologies, he constantly and repeatedly contradicted himself. The power of Globalisation is now, more evident, and more prominent than ever.
Sources;
Manfred B. Steger, 'Globalization - a very short introduction', Oxford University Press
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13296443
AP source; AAP
www.aljazeera.com
James Ball (April 25, 2011). "Guantánamo Bay files: Casio wristwatch 'the sign of al-Qaida'".
As Manfred B. Steger put it nicely in his book 'Globalization - A Very Short Introduction' (printed by the Oxford University Press), jihadist globalism has certainly been on the rise recently. And as he also detailed in his book, at the heart of it is Osama bin Laden, the man behind 9/11 and the old-leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
Throughout his time as leader of arguably, the world's most prolific terrorist group, he constantly contradicted himself - claiming that the West were invading Middle-East, not physically invading with troops (although this did happen when President Bush sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan), but in an ideological sense. He saw the US and its allies as planting ideas and innovations in the minds of those around him, in those of the Middle-East. So, as a result, he retaliated and set up al-Qaeda in 1988. But despite the retaliation, he did contradict himself.
Here, as he can be seen talking to the camera, making threats to the US in 2001; he is seen wearing a Casio f-91W watch, made by the Japanese computer firm Casio Computer Co., Ltd. It is also designed and manufactured in Japan, yet is sold globally, so technically, this f-91W watch is a global phenomenon, much like Globalisation and is a symbol of Globalisation, but why is he wearing that watch, if he is against the Globalisation Phenomenon?
We can also see in the background of the image AK-47, a global weapon of choice for many who would need one. The Islamic Extremist is also using a video-camera and microphone to get his message across the Globe, he wants to be seen and wants to be known around the World. But yet he is against Globalisation? Furthermore, to relay this message, it was broadcast on the Al-Jazeera network based in Qatar, yet this is a global network. There's also a high chance that his clothes have been made elsewhere, it's unlikely those clothes were made using local 'threads', so yet again without realising, he's contradicted himself and everything he is against. This is the power of the Globalisation trend, and although he represented those against the expansion and intensification of global ideologies, he constantly and repeatedly contradicted himself. The power of Globalisation is now, more evident, and more prominent than ever.
Sources;
Manfred B. Steger, 'Globalization - a very short introduction', Oxford University Press
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13296443
AP source; AAP
www.aljazeera.com
James Ball (April 25, 2011). "Guantánamo Bay files: Casio wristwatch 'the sign of al-Qaida'".
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