ABSTRACT

This book provides an in-depth comparative analysis of inequality and the stratification of the digital sphere.

Grounded in classical sociological theories of inequality, as well as empirical evidence, this book defines ‘the digital divide’ as the unequal access and utility of internet communications technologies and explores how it has the potential to replicate existing social inequalities, as well as create new forms of stratification. The Digital Divide examines how various demographic and socio-economic factors including income, education, age and gender, as well as infrastructure, products and services affect how the internet is used and accessed. Comprised of six parts, the first section examines theories of the digital divide, and then looks in turn at:

  • Highly developed nations and regions (including the USA, the EU and Japan);
  • Emerging large powers (Brazil, China, India, Russia);
  • Eastern European countries (Estonia, Romania, Serbia);
  • Arab and Middle Eastern nations (Egypt, Iran, Israel);
  • Under-studied areas (East and Central Asia, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa). 

Providing an interwoven analysis of the international inequalities in internet usage and access, this important work offers a comprehensive approach to studying the digital divide around the globe. It is an important resource for academic and students in sociology, social policy, communication studies, media studies and all those interested in the questions and issues around social inequality.

chapter |14 pages

Introduction

part 1|37 pages

Theories of the digital divide

chapter 1|12 pages

The reproduction and reconfiguration of inequality

Differentiation and class, status and power in the dynamics of digital divides

part 2|51 pages

Section 2 Highly developed nations and regions

chapter 5|19 pages

Missing in the midst of abundance

The case of broadband adoption in Japan 1

part 3|60 pages

Rapidly developing large nations — the BRIC nations

chapter 6|11 pages

The digital divide in Brazil

Conceptual, research and policy challenges

chapter 7|16 pages

Digitizing Russia

The uneven pace of progress toward ICT equality

chapter 8|13 pages

The digital divide in India

Inferences from the information and communication technology workforce

chapter 9|18 pages

The digital divide in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan

The barriers of first order and second order digital divide

part 4|42 pages

Eastern Europe

chapter 10|12 pages

The Internet and digital divide in South Eastern Europe

Connectivity does not end the digital divide, skills do 1

chapter 11|14 pages

Closing the gap, are we there yet?

Reflections on the persistence of second-level digital divide among adolescents in Central and Eastern Europe 1

chapter 12|14 pages

Behind the slogan of “e-State”

Digital stratification in Estonia 1

part 5|44 pages

The Middle East region

chapter 13|13 pages

Digitally divided we stand

The contribution of digital media to the Arab Spring

chapter 14|15 pages

Explaining digital inequalities in Israel

Juxtaposing the conflict and cultural perspectives

chapter 15|14 pages

An analysis of the second-level digital divide in Iran

A case study of University of Tehran undergraduate students

part 6|58 pages

Under-studied countries and regions

chapter 17|15 pages

17 The Central Asian digital divide

chapter 18|12 pages

The double digital divide and social inequality in Asia

Comparative research on Internet cafes in Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines 1

chapter |7 pages

Afterword

Internet freedom, nuanced digital divides, and the Internet craftsman 1