"Emblematique du processus de mondialisation, le developpement des nouvelles technologies de l'information et de la communication a bouleverse la configuration du paysage mediatique dans le monde arabe. Ce phenomene manifeste de maniere exemplaire une articulation inedite des espaces national, trans
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national et mondial dans un ensemble arabe tiraille entre multiples cadres de reference identitaire melant differentes versions du panarabisme et du panislamisme aux diverses allegeances communautaires et nationalistes. Aux politiques etablies differenciees de cloture et d'ouverture des territoires nationaux face a l'accroissement des flux informationnels repondent des pratiques sociales visant a contourner les contraintes de la censure et a construire de nouveaux modes de communication et de sociabilite qui contribuent a redefinir les echelles de la mondialite. Apres la proliferation des antennes paraboliques qui, au milieu des annees 1980, herissent les toits des habitations, c'est aujourd'hui la multiplication des cafes-internet qui constitue le principal marqueur spatial de la recomposition des horizons de reception. Des televisions satellitaires a internet, en passant par la communication publicitaire et les nouveaux modes de diffusion de l'ecrit, les etudes presentees dans cet ouvrage explorent les strategies economiques et politiques, les reglementations juridiques, les savoirs professionnels, les formes et les contenus mediatiques que suscitent ces nouveaux espaces de communication. Ce travail, fruit d'une recherche collective ayant reuni des chercheurs arabes et europeens, constitue le premier ouvrage en francais sur les evolutions recentes de la scene mediatique arabe." (Résumé)
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"The growth in electoral democracies presents many potential opportunities for human development. Yet in practice transitional and consolidating democracies often remain fragile and incomplete, lacking strong institutions essential for effective voice and accountability, including freedom of express
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ion and widespread opportunities for civic engagement. What can be done to strengthen democratic development and, in particular what is the role of the media in this process? Part I suggests that the mass media will have a positive impact on good governance and human development if they function effectively as a watchdog holding the powerful to account and as a civic forum facilitating a diversity of voices in public debate. Yet in practice the press is often limited in these roles. Liberal theories have long stressed the importance of an independent fourth estate as a check on the abuse of power. The study theorizes that this is necessary but not sufficient, in particular media systems strengthen good governance and promote positive development outcomes most effectively under two conditions: (i) where there is an unfettered and independent free press, [...] Part II operationalizes this typology then compares media systems around the world. Part III examines the cross-national evidence for the impact of these patterns. The study confirms that media systems characterized by widespread mass access and by an independent press are most closely associated with systematic indicators of good governance and human development. In particular, nations with these types of media system experience less corruption, greater administrative efficiency, higher political stability, and more effective rule of law, as well as better development outcomes such as higher per capita income, greater literacy, less economic inequality, lower infant mortality rates, and greater public spending on health. Part IV provides detailed case studies illustrating this relationship in particular countries. The conclusion considers the policy implications, suggesting practical steps to strengthen the channels of mass communications in poorer societies lacking either widespread access or freedom of the press." (http://www.escuelapnud.org)
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"La presente obra recoge trabajos pioneros de investigación que reflexionan, a partir de una perspectiva cualitativa y etnográfica, cómo las nuevas tecnologías de información y comunicación en su aplicación al sistema escolar y a iniciativas de gestión local reproducen las pedagogías tradic
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ionales y las formas dominantes de ejercicio del poder. Otros, sobre la necesidad de impulsar una cultura Internet, fundamentada en la praxis social de un "Derecho a la comunicación y a la cultura" y un "Derecho Internet" que permitan la concreción de una verdadera participación ciudadana y un libre acceso al conocimiento, con respeto de los derechos personales e individuales, como los de la privacidad e intimidad." (Tapa posterior)
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"Evaluations of the Internet and Development have tended to focus on the extent to which a websites content, or message, has affected development activities. This research examines the usage of the medium itself, by conducting an applied evaluative study of eight urban-focused websites disseminating
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development research findings. Evaluated websites are decomposed into six components of website production, namely: architecture, technology, style, content, strategy and management. Key qualities associated with these components are then examined, in order to assess the suitability of each website from the perspective of an international audience. This paper's purpose is to help build the capacity of organisations working in the field of international development, which intend to evaluate their own website(s). It aims to support the evaluation process so that websites can be improved as a medium for communicating research to an international audience." (INTRAC website)
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"In a cross-section of more than 150 countries, Kaufmann, Kraay, and Zoido-Lobatón provide new empirical evidence of a strong causal relationship from better governance to better development outcomes. They base their analysis on a new database containing more than 300 governance indicators compiled
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from a variety of sources. They provide a detailed description of each of these indicators and sources. Using an unobserved components methodology (described in the companion paper by Kaufmann, Kraay, and ZoidoLobatón, “Aggregating Governance Indicators,” Policy Research Working Paper 2195), they then contruct six aggregate indicators corresponding to six basic governance concepts: voice and accountability, political instability and violence, government effectiveness, regulatory burden, rule of law, and graft. As measured by these indicators, governance matters for development outcomes." (Summary findings)
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