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The new knowledge politics of digital colonialism

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  • Jason C. Young

Abstract

While the impacts of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on society have been extensively studied, the most nuanced research approaches continue to focus on urban geographies in the Global North. There remains a paucity of critical work that focuses on ICT use in Indigenous, rural, and Global South communities. This paper responds to that gap by critically examining how the introduction of ICTs within Indigenous communities can exert epistemic violence against local knowledge systems. It does so through a case study of ICT usage within an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. I use a combination of participant observation, archival research, and semi-structured interviews to ask how the introduction of ICTs is transforming knowledge politics that impact Inuit Qaujimaningit (IQ; Inuit knowledge). I find that digital engagement erodes key components of the IQ system, including social practices within Inuit communities, travel outside of the community, and experiential learning while outside of the community. These findings have implications for the study of global digital geographies, applied research within the area of ICT for development, and Indigenous engagements with emerging technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason C. Young, 2019. "The new knowledge politics of digital colonialism," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 51(7), pages 1424-1441, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:51:y:2019:i:7:p:1424-1441
    DOI: 10.1177/0308518X19858998
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rahul De´ & Abhipsa Pal & Rupal Sethi & Sunil K. Reddy & Chetan Chitre, 2018. "ICT4D research: a call for a strong critical approach," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(1), pages 63-94, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adeel Afzal & Sue Kilpatrick & Lydia R. Turner, 2022. "Tasmanian Dairy Farmers’ Attitudes towards Using E-Extension Methods; Strengthening the Dairy Extension System for a Sustainable Dairy Industry in Tasmania, Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Petrakaki, Dimitra & Chamakiotis, Petros & Curto-Millet, Daniel, 2023. "From ‘making up’ professionals to epistemic colonialism: Digital health platforms in the Global South," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    3. El Bachir Diop & Jérôme Chenal & Stéphane Cédric Koumetio Tekouabou & Rida Azmi, 2022. "Crowdsourcing Public Engagement for Urban Planning in the Global South: Methods, Challenges and Suggestions for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Alba Vázquez-López & Martín Barrasa-Rioja & Manuel Marey-Perez, 2021. "ICT in Rural Areas from the Perspective of Dairy Farming: A Systematic Review," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Giovanni Bettini & Giovanna Gioli & Romain Felli, 2020. "Clouded skies: How digital technologies could reshape “Loss and Damage” from climate change," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(4), July.

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