The Knowledge Society and Information and Communication Technologies in MENA countries: Diachrony and comparison

Abstract

This article contains the result of a documentary research on the evolution throughout the 21st century of the state of the Knowledge Society (KS) in the MENA countries after the expansion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) based on observations made since 2001 in research and publications developed in the Spanish, Latin American, Maghreb and Mashreq academic spheres. The aim is to detect the changes that have occurred in the degree of implementation of KS and its link to the right to information, communication, and cyberspace, and its management in these countries. After a theoretical and conceptual tour, it is concluded that the empowerment of ICT is the key resource for strengthening civil society and its access to the KS. In a region with an inestimable demographic potential, however, large gaps remain in terms of the access of citizens in these countries to the KS. As a result, there are social and political relationships of dependency that could lead to the qualification of a new colonialism over knowledge. This study concludes that the empowerment of ICTs is the key resource for strengthening civil society and its access to the KS.

Keywords

• mena countries
• knowledge society
• ict
• digital divide
• degree of development