[IP] Rand Review Article on International Internet Roadblocks

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Title: approve:ggfarber   Rand Review Article on International Internet Roadblocks

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From: "C. M. Colee" <cmcolee@iadfw.net>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 01:12:05 -0600
To: David Farber <dave@farber.net>
Subject: Rand Review Article on International Internet Roadblocks

from the December issue of the Rand Review
 
complete article at http://www.rand.org/publications/randreview/issues/rr.12.02/connections.html
 
Poor Connections
Trouble on the Internet Frontiers
Numerous obstacles keep the information revolution from spreading unfettered to the furthest reaches of the globe. RAND researchers have looked at four regions where the "information superhighway" has hit roadblocks: China, Russia, Latin America, and parts of the Middle East. The researchers map the obstacles unique to each region and, where possible, point the way toward potentially overcoming them. 
Here are the key findings: 
 

In China, the government's crackdown on dissidents is currently succeeding in cyberspace. However, as the use of the Internet expands across China as a cornerstone of economic development, the government will have a harder time suppressing information, perhaps making it easier for dissidents to push the country toward pluralization and maybe even democracy. 
 
In Russia, a similar tension exists between the urge to reap the economic benefits of the information revolution and the urge to control information that could threaten political stability or national security. Unlike China, however, it is unclear if Russia has either the will or the capability to become a full-fledged participant in the revolution in the foreseeable future. 
 
Latin American countries are at various stages of the revolution, yet many of the countries face similar difficulties: the scarcity of credit cards with which to pay for e-commerce, poor infrastructure for delivering purchases, and popular distrust of delivery procedures. Other hindrances include poor education, the flight of skilled people to the United States, and desires for national or regional autonomy. Mexico may offer the most promising model for overcoming some of these obstacles. 
 
Afghanistan and the developing countries of the Middle East are missing out on much of the revolution. Many of the countries resist the revolution. Meanwhile, efforts to spread the revolution in these countries give too little consideration to the plight of marginalized people and fail to build on the strengths of the local environment. Nevertheless, the establishment of local Internet centers with a "human face" could facilitate Internet use in small towns and villages.


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