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Subaltern studies: Advancing critical theory in ICT4D

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conference contribution
posted on 2018-07-12, 09:54 authored by Silvia Masiero
Critical research has been advocated as capable to uncover multiple contradictions in ICT-induced development processes. This paper explores the potential of subaltern studies to contribute to the generation of critical theory in ICT4D. Following the postcolonial thought of Partha Chatterjee, the paper proposes a vision of subalternity centred on technologies of rule that concur to devoicing the marginalised. The theory is used to examine the computerisation of a large Indian social protection scheme, illustrating how processes of digitalisation, formally aimed at the empowerment of recipients, actually resulted in the systematic crystallisation of alienating power structures in the programme. This resulted in the further de-voicing of the wageseekers that the scheme should have empowered, casting doubt on the image of a pro-poor “digital India” represented in mainstream narratives. Used as analytical framework, subalternity theory makes it possible to represent the views of the devoiced and marginalised, hence contributing to enacting the emancipatory purpose of critical theory in ICT4D.

History

School

  • Business and Economics

Department

  • Business

Published in

European Conference of Information Systems

Citation

MASIERO, S., 2018. Subaltern studies: Advancing critical theory in ICT4D. IN: Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS), Portsmouth, UK, 23-28 June 2018.

Publisher

European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS) © The Authors

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publisher statement

This work is made available according to the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence. Full details of this licence are available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Acceptance date

2018-04-24

Publication date

2018

Notes

This is a conference paper.

Language

  • en

Location

Portsmouth, United Kingdom

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