Social Development, Information and Knowledge: Whatever Happened to Communication?

Cees J. Hamelink reviews the current interest in Information societies in the discussions around the World Summit on the Information Society. He argues that the current emphasis on information and knowledge largely bypasses the fundamental question as to whether information and knowledge are primary resources for social development. In doing so he queries the popular myths that fuel the enthusiasm of information and knowledge societies. He warns that we have to be careful not to adopt the dialogical form of communication as the ultimate panacea for development issues. © 2002 The Society for International Development.