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Of Cables, Connections and Control: Africa’s Double Dependency in the Information Age

In: Enacting Globalization

Author

Listed:
  • Björn Surborg
  • Pádraig Carmody

Abstract

A little over a decade ago Africa was being written off by some observers as a ‘hopeless’ or ‘lost’ continent. While these characterizations were problematic, international business has now ‘discovered’ the African market and the level of communicative connectivity between the continent and the rest of the world has increased substantially as a result of improved infrastructure and associated falling information relay costs. This chapter examines the discourse and development of the ‘Information Age’ in Africa from low connectivity at the beginning of the fibre optic revolution to the current boom in mobile phone and internet usage. While much of the literature to date has been celebratory, this chapter adopts a critical perspecuve to interrogate the dialectical nature of this revolution in Africa; arguing that fibre-optic cables bring new constraints, not only opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Björn Surborg & Pádraig Carmody, 2014. "Of Cables, Connections and Control: Africa’s Double Dependency in the Information Age," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Louis Brennan (ed.), Enacting Globalization, chapter 22, pages 240-249, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-137-36194-3_22
    DOI: 10.1057/9781137361943_22
    as

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