Digital connectivity and the SDGs: conceptualising the link through an institutional resilience lens

Madon, Shirin ORCID: 0000-0002-4497-2165 and Masiero, Silvia (2024) Digital connectivity and the SDGs: conceptualising the link through an institutional resilience lens. Telecommunications Policy. ISSN 0308-5961 (In Press)

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Abstract

In this paper we contribute to the discourse on digital connectivity and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on low and middle-income countries (LMICs). While digital connectivity has been showcased as a “hidden hero” for restoring societal functioning during the pandemic, the theoretical link between digital connectivity and the achievement of fundamental development objectives as articulated in the SDGs has been under-researched. Drawing on the theoretical lens of institutional resilience, we study how mechanisms of resilience-building through digital connectivity policies within Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa align with the policies in place to attain the SDGs. Adopting the methodology of critical policy analysis, we identify commonalities between the countries in terms of the policy and institutional arrangements for expanding digital connectivity and in terms of national planning efforts for achieving the goals of Agenda 2030. We offer a new conceptualisation about ICTs and the SDGs by bringing to light, through empirical evidence, the lack of alignment between the policy and institutional arrangements for expanding the reach of digital connectivity and the achievement of developmental goals.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Author(s)
Divisions:	International Development
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications H Social Sciences
Date Deposited:	07 Nov 2024 10:18
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 04:33
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/125970

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