[Telecentres] FYI: Introduction: Globalisation as a Trigger for Local Community Development

[Mikhail Doroshevich]

Volume 20 contains a special issue of five papers organised around the
theme: Information Systems Perspectives and Challenges in the Context of
Globalisation.  The special issue is guest edited by incoming Senior
Editor of the journal, Gamila Shoib, from the University of Bath, UK.
Introduction: Globalisation as a Trigger for Local Community Development

Since its inception the term 'globalisation' has come to be associated
with a view of the world where, although there is an increased
consciousness of the world becoming one, a new world order appears to
have come into existence where the economically more developed countries
are expanding their economies, exploiting the less developed countries'
lower-cost skills and resource offerings and capitalism is becoming the
norm. This special issue, however, tells a refreshingly different story.
It is a story of globalisation providing, intentionally or otherwise, a
trigger for local community development. The case studies come from all
corners of the world. They give us a different perspective on the
globalisation beast, one which paints a less bleak picture for less
developed economies. This image emerged rather spontaneously as the
overarching theme for the issue was a rather general one, namely "The
Challenges and Opportunities afforded by Globalisation". The papers
share a number of themes and characteristics which are noteworthy in
that they contribute to this balancing of global power relations:

    * They show a great deal of respect for and understanding of the
local context and avoid any a priori assumptions about the value or
danger of globalisation.
    * They care about the well-being of the people of the communities
that they have studied beyond looking at economic benefit and gain. As
such "success" is not evaluated purely in terms of financial or economic
considerations.
    * They adopt multiple perspectives in describing and analysing their
cases.
    * They do not conceive of local culture a priori as an impediment to
progress and success.
    * They engage with the subjects of their inquiry and offer a wealth
of detail and description in their presentation of the material.

,,,

http://www.is.cityu.edu.hk/research/ejisdc/vol20.htm