Political economy of ICT4D and Africa

Abstract

With hype surrounding the leapfrogging power of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the national and international development agenda, there have been significant scholarly research interests in what ICTs “will do” and “can do” for Africa and its people if appropriated within national development planning agenda. Several of these studies have examined the utopia and dystopia dimensions of the ICTs from the standpoints of socioeconomic development. Against this background, this chapter examines the political economy of ICTs for development in Africa. In this context, the chapter explores ICTs as an economic sector and also as an interventionist tool in the development process.