For more info, contact Umaru Bah,  Assistant Professor in the Dept. of
Communication Studies at Morgan State Univ. (Baltmore, MD), Phone:
443-885-3379.
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

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CFP: Africa and the Digital Dividend (03/28/03; ASA 10/30/03-11/02/03)


100-Word Abstract needed no later than March 28, 2003 for Proposed Panel
for the 46th Annual Convention of the African Studies Association (Boston,MA,
Oct. 30-Nov. 2).

http://www.africanstudies.org


Proposed Panel Title: Africa and the Digital Dividend: Myths, Challenges
and Opportunities

The new information revolution in the 1990s, marked by the exponential
growth of the Internet, has reinvigorated debate on the role of communication
in Africa’s development. In an attempt to take full advantage of this
revolution, current policy programs proposed by local,national, multinational
and non-governmental organizations de-emphasize modernization or dependency
models at the national level, for participatory/sustainable development models
at the local, community
levels. In the same vein, information/communication technology, once viewed as
the one-size-fits-all vehicle for communicating development, is now in large
part considered as the key index of development itself, with information
software, hardware and services custom-made to address the specific needs and
challenges of the target community.

However, while much has changed, much has remained the same. Many scholars
have noted the widening socioeconomic disparity between the information haves
in the North and the information have-nots in the South, an age-old condition
newly termed the digital divide. Unfortunately, many programs put forward to
overcome this divide (collectively known as digital dividend initiatives) have
been hampered by seemingly insurmountable political, organizational,
infrastructural and/or socioeconomic obstacles.

The proposed panel seeks to address these obstacles from various perspectives,
with a view to proposing effective solutions to overcome them.
Interested participants are asked to submit an abstract (not to exceed 100
words) on the topic, NO LATER THAN FRIDAY MARCH 28, 2003, to Dr. Umaru Bah
(Department of Communication Studies, Morgan State University) at:
[log in to unmask] Your focus could be political, historical, socioeconomic,
theoretical/methodological, comparative,
critical/cultural, technological or infrastructural.

Please submit your abstract with the following information:

1. A title
2. Your name, including official title
3. University/institutional affiliation,
4. Mailing address
5. Phone numbers (home and work)
6. E-mail


In strict adherence to ASA rules, all abstracts must be accompanied by
the following:

1. A pre-registration fee ranging from $45-95, depending on your annual
income. Please visit the ASA page below to determine the fee for your
income bracket:

http://www.africanstudies.org/Membershipandpreregistrationform2003.pdf

Your pre-registration fee will be refunded if your proposal is
rejected.

2. If you are not an ASA member, a non-refundable membership fee
ranging from $40-$120, depending on your annual income. Please visit the ASA
page below to determine the fee for your income bracket:

http://www.africanstudies.org/Membershipandpreregistrationform2003.pdf

3. Make your check payable to: African Studies Association.

4. Please e-mail your abstract and information to Dr. Umaru Bah at:
[log in to unmask]

5. Mail your check or money order to:

Dr. Umaru Bah
9521 Oakhurst Drive
Columbia, MD 21046

Please note that proposals without membership and pre-registration fees
will not be processed by the ASA Committee.

For further information, you can visit the ASA website at:
www.africanstudies.org. You can also contact Dr. Umaru Bah at: (Work)
443-885-3379 or via e-mail at: [log in to unmask]