Digital Capabilities: ICT Adoption in Marginalized Communities in Israel and the West Bank

Digital Capabilities is a first-of-its-kind exploration of how communities in positions of inequality in Israel and the West Bank utilize information and communication technologies (ICT) to achieve their goals, and how ICTs serve their desire to communicate.

Format: Hardback
Length: 246 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

Digital Capabilities is a groundbreaking exploration of the unique ways in which communities in positions of inequality in Israel and the West Bank leverage information and communication technologies (ICTs) to achieve their goals. This comprehensive research project, spanning eight years, involved nine authors, some of whom hailed from the very communities they studied. Through extensive fieldwork and deep engagement with these populations, the authors sought to understand the opportunities ICTs provide for communication and the ways in which they fulfill the desire for connectivity among these marginalized groups.

The capabilities approach, a theoretical framework that has garnered significant attention, takes on a tangible form in this project. It serves as a valuable tool for assessing whether ICTs are meeting the real needs of these communities, whether communication resources are being distributed fairly and equitably, and whether they are contributing to the realization of a universal right to communication.

The findings of Digital Capabilities shed light on the diverse ways in which ICTs are being utilized by these communities. From the use of social media platforms to organize protests and raise awareness about social injustices to the development of community-based initiatives that promote education and economic empowerment, ICTs are becoming powerful tools for marginalized communities to assert their voices and shape their futures.

However, the project also highlights the challenges and barriers these communities face in accessing and utilizing ICTs. Lack of infrastructure, limited access to technology, and cultural and linguistic barriers are just some of the factors that hinder their ability to fully leverage the potential of ICTs.

To address these challenges, Digital Capabilities proposes a range of recommendations and strategies. These include investing in infrastructure development, providing training and resources to marginalized communities, and promoting policies that promote digital inclusion and equality.

In conclusion, Digital Capabilities is a groundbreaking exploration of the capabilities that communities in positions of inequality seek to realize through the utilization of ICTs. It provides valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges these communities face, and offers practical recommendations for promoting digital inclusion and equality in Israel and the West Bank. This project is a testament to the power of technology and the potential it holds to transform the lives of marginalized communities.

Weight: 473g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031229299
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023