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The Influence of Google on Urban Policy in Developing Countries

Author

Listed:
  • RICHARD TOMLINSON
  • ANDREA RIZVI
  • RENE SALINAS
  • STEFANIE GARRY
  • JENNIFER PEHR
  • FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ

Abstract

‘Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.’ In the case of urban policy in developing countries, Google not only provides information, e.g. the size of a city's population, but also knowledge, e.g. analyses of urban issues and policies. Based on research conducted between January and May 2008, we argue that googling urban policy issues contributes to hegemonic policy perspectives; that the manner in which Google organizes knowledge limits access to alternative policy perspectives and debate; and that this is not in the public interest. We make three claims. The first is that the World Bank, the Cities Alliance and UN Habitat together dominate explanations of urban issues and appropriate policies. The second is that googling policy issues contributes to this dominance. The third claim is that Google especially serves this purpose when the query ‘keywords’ can be used as labels whose conceptualization can be ‘owned’. These claims are demonstrated through explaining how the Google search engine works and creates ‘biases’; and then through googling ‘city development strategy’, ‘slum upgrading’, and ‘municipal services, finances and capacity building in developing countries’. We further demonstrate that finding potential alternative policies requires perseverance and time and pre‐existing knowledge of what the policy issues might be. Résumé ‘Google a pour mission d'organiser les informations à l'échelle mondiale dans le but de les rendre accessibles et utiles à tous.’ En matière de politique urbaine dans les pays en développement, Google fournit des informations (chiffres de la population d'une ville, par exemple), mais aussi du savoir (comme les analyses des enjeux et des politiques de la ville). Une étude menée entre janvier et mai 2008 permet de montrer que les recherches via Google sur les questions de politique urbaine contribuent à des approches politiques hégémoniques, que le mode d'organisation du savoir par Google limite l'accès à des points de vue et débats alternatifs, et que cette situation ne répond pas à l'intérêt public. Trois observations sont formulées: d'abord, la Banque mondiale, l'Alliance des villes et l'ONU‐Habitat monopolisent les explications sur les questions urbaines et les politiques appropriées; ensuite, interroger Google sur les enjeux de politique publique contribue à cette hégémonie; enfin, Google va dans ce sens lorsque les ‘mots clés’ de recherche peuvent servir de ‘dénominations’ pour des concepts renvoyant à des ‘propriétaires’. À l'appui de ces affirmations, nous expliquons comment le moteur de recherche de Google fonctionne et crée des ‘distorsions’, puis nous présentons les résultats d'interrogations sur ‘city development strategy’, ‘slum upgrading’ et ‘municipal services, finances and capacity building in developing countries’. Nous montrons également que trouver des politiques alternatives potentielles exige persévérance et temps, ainsi qu'une connaissance préalable des enjeux de politique publique.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Tomlinson & Andrea Rizvi & Rene Salinas & Stefanie Garry & Jennifer Pehr & Francisco Rodriguez, 2010. "The Influence of Google on Urban Policy in Developing Countries," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 174-189, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:ijurrs:v:34:y:2010:i:1:p:174-189
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2427.2010.00933.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:ilo:ilowps:349957 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Richard Tomlinson, 2002. "International Best Practice, Enabling Frameworks and the Policy Process: A South African Case Study," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(2), pages 377-388, June.
    3. Dasgupta, Basab & Lall, Somik V., 2006. "Assessing benefits of slum upgrading programs in second-best settings," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3993, The World Bank.
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    Cited by:

    1. Constance Carr & Markus Hesse, 2020. "When Alphabet Inc. Plans Toronto’s Waterfront: New Post-Political Modes of Urban Governance," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(1), pages 69-83.
    2. S.S. Cilliers & J.E. Drewes & M.J. Du Toit & D. P. Cilliers, 2011. "Urban Ecology: Policy Issues Resolved and Unresolved," Chapters, in: H. S. Geyer (ed.), International Handbook of Urban Policy, Volume 3, chapter 10, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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