Tim Unwin

Why do so many efforts to use digital tech to help the world’s poor ultimately end in failure? This book provides a detailed critique of previous theory and practice, whilst also proposing practical and realistic suggestions for good practice. This book combines longer thematic chapters by Tim Unwin, one of the world’s leading thinkers on ICT for development, with shorter vignettes from other experts across a range of different practical, intellectual, and geographic backgrounds. The book argues that the global geo-politico-economic agendas associated with the use of digital tech in development in late-capitalism raise pressing issues around instrumentalism, individualism, and empowerment. This context drives short-termism and an innovation fetish around current hot topics, such as EdTech, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence. The world’s poorest and most marginalised people are failing to benefit from the use of digital technology, whilst the world’s digital barons continue to accrue great wealth. Unwin emphasises the importance of crafting a responsibilities agenda that will shift the dial, enabling practitioners to avoid common pitfalls and transform good intent into good practices. This book is a highly readable guide for the global community of development practitioners, government officials, and civil society organisations involved in delivering digital tech initiatives. Students from across the fields of international development, computer science, electronic engineering, geography, and economics will also benefit from its expert insights.

Why do so many efforts to use digital tech to help the world’s poor ultimately end in failure? This book provides a detailed critique of previous theory and practice, whilst also proposing practical and realistic suggestions for good practice. This book combines longer thematic chapters by Tim Unwin, one of the world’s leading thinkers on ICT for development, with shorter vignettes from other experts across a range of different practical, intellectual, and geographic backgrounds. The book argues that the global geo-politico-economic agendas associated with the use of digital tech in development in late-capitalism raise pressing issues around instrumentalism, individualism, and empowerment. This context drives short-termism and an innovation fetish around current hot topics, such as EdTech, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence. The world’s poorest and most marginalised people are failing to benefit from the use of digital technology, whilst the world’s digital barons continue to accrue great wealth. Unwin emphasises the importance of crafting a responsibilities agenda that will shift the dial, enabling practitioners to avoid common pitfalls and transform good intent into good practices. This book is a highly readable guide for the global community of development practitioners, government officials, and civil society organisations involved in delivering digital tech initiatives. Students from across the fields of international development, computer science, electronic engineering, geography, and economics will also benefit from its expert insights.

First published in 2003. Europe: lives in transition gives a voice to people living through transition, opening a door for outsiders to understand how such people have lived - an opportunity for one to speak and another to listen. The book has been deliberately written in an accessible, engaging and first-hand manner. Original quotes from various projects are woven together throughout the text.This book focuses explicitly on the experiences of respondents and functions largely to introduce themes and speakers. The principal themes are: identities, relationships, production, consumption and power. Except for selected crucial theoretical and methodological discussions, any academic commentary, which might overshadow the words of the respondents, is kept to a minimum. A key aim is to engage the readers with the text by confronting them with their own preconceptions and geographical imaginations. Each chapter opens with two activity sections to help readers think about the themes in broader terms, for example, by doing some research themselves. Each chapter closes with two further activity sections for review and discussion.

A European Geography provides a geographical interpretation and exposition of the whole of Europe. Beginning with a historical and envronmental introduction, the text covers the cultural identity, political structure, economic organisation and social context of Europe, examining the complex issues that are shaping the characteristics and meaning of contemporary Europe. More than fifty contributors are drawn from Europe and North America, contributing a wealth of research expertise in their specialist subject areas. Detailed case studies provide empirical examples of the broader research themes examined.A European Geography is written for undergraduate students taking courses on Europe, Regional Geography, European Studies, and European Integration. It will provide valuable reading for anyone interested in developing a detailed understanding of the processes shaping contemporary Europe.

The development of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has transformed the world over the last two decades. These technologies are often seen as being inherently 'good', with the ability to make the world better, and in particular to reduce poverty. However, their darker side is frequently ignored in such accounts. ICTs undoubtedly have the potential to reduce poverty, for example by enhancing education, health delivery, rural development and entrepreneurship across Africa, Asia and Latin America. However, all too often, projects designed to do so fail to go to scale, and are unsustainable when donor funding ceases. Indeed, ICTs have actually dramatically increased inequality across the world. The central purpose of this book is to account for why this is so, and it does so primarily by laying bare the interests that have underlain the dramatic expansion of ICTs in recent years. Unless these are fully understood, it will not be possible to reclaim the use of these technologies to empower the world's poorest and most marginalised.

The Place of Geography is designed to provide a readable and yet challenging account of the emergence of gepgraphy as an academic discipline. It has three particular aims: it seeks to trace the development of geography back to its formal roots in classical antiquity; provides an interpretation of the changes that have taken place in geographical practice within the context of Jurgen Haberma's critical theory; and thirdly, describes how the increasing separation of geography into physical and human parts has been detrimental to our understanding of critical issues concerning the relationship between people and environment.

First published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

A European Geography provides a geographical interpretation and exposition of the whole of Europe. Beginning with a historical and envronmental introduction, the text covers the cultural identity, political structure, economic organisation and social context of Europe, examining the complex issues that are shaping the characteristics and meaning of contemporary Europe. More than fifty contributors are drawn from Europe and North America, contributing a wealth of research expertise in their specialist subject areas. Detailed case studies provide empirical examples of the broader research themes examined.A European Geography is written for undergraduate students taking courses on Europe, Regional Geography, European Studies, and European Integration. It will provide valuable reading for anyone interested in developing a detailed understanding of the processes shaping contemporary Europe.

The management of the environment, whether locally, nationally or globally, is of crucial economic, social and scientific importance. The first reader published for this course.Environmental management is one of the most common career paths for environmental studies/science and geography graduates: the courses attract large numbers in senior level/third year and at graduate MA/MSc level.Offers a guide to further reading.

The management of the environment, whether locally, nationally or globally, is of crucial economic, social and scientific importance. The first reader published for this course.Environmental management is one of the most common career paths for environmental studies/science and geography graduates: the courses attract large numbers in senior level/third year and at graduate MA/MSc level.Offers a guide to further reading.

Wine and the Vine provides an introduction to the historical geography of viticulture and the wine trade from prehistory to the present. Throughout, the rich symbolic and cultural significance of wine is related to its evolution as a commercial product. The book thus discusses both the numerous symbolic roles assigned to wine and the vine by people of different religions and also the internationalisation of wine production and marketing.

The Place of Geography is designed to provide a readable and yet challenging account of the emergence of gepgraphy as an academic discipline. It has three particular aims: it seeks to trace the development of geography back to its formal roots in classical antiquity; provides an interpretation of the changes that have taken place in geographical practice within the context of Jurgen Haberma's critical theory; and thirdly, describes how the increasing separation of geography into physical and human parts has been detrimental to our understanding of critical issues concerning the relationship between people and environment.

Very few books have products as diverse as those of the grape vine: even fewer have products with such a cultural significance. Wine and the Vine provides an introduction to the historical geography of viticulture and the wine trade from prehistory to the present. It considers wine as both a unique expression of the interaction of people in a particular environment, rich in symbol and meaning, and a commercial product of great economic importance to particular regions.