[ecrea] cfp - Mapping New Perspectives and Debates on Digital Divide in Africa

*Call for papers*

**

*Mapping New Perspectives and Debates on Digital Divide in Africa*

**

*IAMCR pre-conference*

**

Social media platforms are being considered new podiums for political 
transformation as political dictatorships supposedly convert to 
overnight democracies as more and more people are not only able to gain 
access to information but also gather and disseminate news from a 
perspective of their own. When looking at the situation in several 
sub-Saharan African countries, it becomes clear there are several 
challenges standing in the way of social media and its palpable yet 
considerably constrained ability to influence political and social 
changes. Access to the Internet or lack of it thereof, is a recognized 
social stratification causing “digital divide” thanks to existing 
inequalities within African and several other societies throughout the 
world. Despite issues associated with the digital divide, mobile 
telephony is growing on the continent and the rise of smartphones has 
given citizens easy access to social networking sites. But the digital 
divide, which mostly reflects on one’s race, gender, socioeconomic 
status or geographical location, stands in the way of digital progress. 
What opportunities are available to tame digital disparities? How are 
different societies in Africa handling digital problems? What innovative 
methods are being used to provide citizens with access to critical 
information that can help improve their lives? This call will be seeking 
original contributions focusing on experiences from various locations in 
several sub-Saharan African countries with the aim of providing an 
updated, critical account on the digital divide and its impact in 
Africa. We seek theoretical and empirical contributions exploring these 
or any related themes:

-Defining and redefining digital divide with specific reference to 
Africa and its Diaspora

-Theoretical interpretations of the concept

- Exploring the Afro-centered relationships between digital divide and 
digital inequalities

-Differences between the first, second and third levels of digital divide

-Protest cultures in Africa and how they have fallen prey to digital divide

All submissions will be considered for inclusion in an edited collection 
and a special journal edition that we are currently putting together.

Please send your abstracts or any enquiries to 
(mutsvairo.bruce /at/ uts.edu.au) <mailto:(mutsvairo.bruce /at/ uts.edu.au)> or 
(massimo.ragnedda /at/ northumbria.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(massimo.ragnedda /at/ northumbria.ac.uk)>

• Abstracts due: May 15 2017 (In English only please)

• Decisions on proposals: May 20, 2017

• Paper drafts: July 10, 2017



/*Location*/

The pre-conference will take place at the Fundación Universitaria Los 
Libertadores on saturday July 15, from 9:00 am.

Calle 31 No. 19 - 51 Barrio Pie de la Popa (Cartagena)

/*Conveners */

/Bruce Mutsvairo is an Associate Professor in Journalism Innovation at 
the University of Technology Sydney. His two latest books (Palgrave, 
2016) are Digital Activism in the Social Media Era: Critical Reflections 
on Emerging Trends in sub-Saharan Africa and Perspectives on 
Participatory Politics and Citizen Journalism in a Networked Africa: A 
Connected Continent./

/Massimo Ragnedda is a Senior Lecturer in Mass Communication at 
Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK where he conducts research on the 
digital divide and social media. He has authored seven books with his 
publications appearing in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and book 
chapters in English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. His books include: 
Theorizing the Digital Divide (co-edited with G Muschert), Routledge 
(forthcoming); The third Digital Divide: a Weberian approach to Digital 
Inequalities (2017), Routledge; The Digital Divide: The Internet and 
Social Inequality in International Perspective (co-edited with G 
Muschert) (2013), Routledge. ​/


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