Call for Papers - Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in
Society

Special Issue on 'ICTs and Social Inclusion'

Important Dates
Final date for submission - June 15 2008

Submissions to:
Cathy Urquhart on [log in to unmask] or Yvonne Underhill-Sem on
[log in to unmask]

Guest Editors:

Cathy Urquhart, Information Systems and Operations Management,
University of Auckland Business School

Yvonne Underhill-Sem, Centre for Development Studies, Faculty of Arts,
University of Auckland


While information and communication technologies (ICTs) may appear
ubiquitous in the 21st century, access to those ICTs is far from
universal. The term 'social inclusion' has been suggested as a more
positive way of approaching this digital divide (Warschauer 2003).
Social inclusion is defined as 'participation in the determination of
both individual and collective life chances' (Stewart 2000). Thus there
is more to social inclusion than equal access to resources, and it
should be recognised that even wealthy individuals may be excluded
because of discrimination based on gender, race, sexual preference or
disability, or political persecution (Warschauer 2003). For instance,
there is evidence that African Americans are socially excluded from
participation in ICTs despite the US being a so-called developed
country, and this is true of many poorer communities in developed
countries. In developing countries, there is evidence that ICT
initiatives tend to favour those who already have access to ICTs through
a superior education (Warschauer 2003). It is inceasingly important to
locate ICTs within the particular social conditions because as with all
technologies, they are an integral aspect of socio-political, economic
and cultural development (Hufkin and Huyer 2006).

ICTs can play a crucial role in shaping collective life chances, for
instance the access to information that ICTs offer can help poverty
reduction. ICTs also facilitate the building of human and social capital
through increasing flows of information, and building on knowledge and
human capacity for poverty reduction (Urquhart, Liyanage and Kah 2007).
In addition to their empowering possibilities, ICTs have also inhibiting
tendencies especially when information and communication is not
integrated within development strategies. These contradictory tendencies
invite more careful theoretically nuanced analysis of ICTs and social
inclusion.

If the position of social inclusion implies equal access to technology
for all, then the sustainability of ICTs in terms of how they are
designed, used and disposed of is also of relevance. E-waste is a
problem in some developing countries, and can be seen to be contrary to
the social inclusion ideal as some countries end up processing other
countries -waste. Such actions are likely to have generational effects,
socially and ecologically. Social inclusion by implication has a concern
with equity and social justice - and environmental problems like global
warming do not respect political boundaries. For these reasons, we also
invite papers that look at novel perspectives on ICTs and environmental
issues.

Possible topics for papers include but are not limited to:

* Assessing government policies and initiatives that counter
social exclusion in ICTs
* Economic perspectives on access to ICTs such as government
policy and ICT infrastructure
* Access, ownership and control of ICTs (including the micro and
macro politics of artefacts)
* Social, spatial and philosophical dimensions of ICTs and social
inclusion
* ICTs and social inclusion as a result of gender inequality,
racial discrimination and other aspects of social exclusion
* The role of human and social capital in effective access and use
of ICTs
* The role of virtual communities in promoting social inclusion
* Unintended consequences of ICT for social inclusion
* ICTs and e-government
* The role of ICTs in economic development.
* How ICTs are reconfiguring traditional notions of citizenship
and participation.
* Sustainable ICTs and ICTs which assist with problems of climate
change and environmental monitoring.

Please feel free to contact Cathy Urquhart on [log in to unmask]
or Yvonne Underhill-Sem on [log in to unmask] with any
queries on submission. See author guidelines
<http://listmanager.emeraldinsight.com/t/8289/55074/1017/0/> for
submission requirements. The normal length requirement is 7000 words but
we are also inviting shorter submissions on cutting edge research that
is in an earlier stage of development. The papers should be emailed to
both guest editors. The submission should also include a structured
abstract (http://info.emeraldinsight.com/authors/guides/abstracts.htm
<http://listmanager.emeraldinsight.com/t/8289/55074/1018/0/> ) and a
signed JAR form
(http://info.emeraldinsight.com/authors/writing/jarforms_index.htm
<http://listmanager.emeraldinsight.com/t/8289/55074/1019/0/> ).

Important Dates
Final date for submission - June 15 2008
Notification of Acceptance - August 30 2008
Final papers due - October 30 2008

About the Journal
The Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society is an
international, refereed journal that aims to provide interdisciplinary
perspectives on the social and ethical impacts of new media and
information and communication technologies on society, organisations,
the environment and individuals.

For more information please see the journal website at:
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/jices.htm