Book

The Promise of Access: Technology, Inequality, and the Political Economy of Hope

2021

Synopsis

Why do we keep trying to solve poverty with technology? What makes us feel that we need to learn to code--or else? In The Promise of Access, Daniel Greene argues that the problem of poverty became a problem of technology in order to manage the contradictions of a changing economy. Greene shows how the digital divide emerged as a policy problem and why simple technological solutions to complex social issues continue to appeal to politicians and professionals who should (and often do) know better.

Greene shows why it is so hard to get rid of the idea--which he terms the access doctrine--that the problem of poverty can be solved with the right tools and the right skills. This way of thinking is so ingrained that is adopted by organizations that fight poverty--which often refashion themselves to resemble technology startups. Drawing on years of fieldwork, Greene explores how this plays out in the real world, examining organizational change in technology startups, public libraries, and a charter school in Washington, DC. He finds that as the libraries and school pursue technological solutions, they win praise and funding but also marginalize and alienate the populations they serve. Greene calls for new political alliances that can change the terms on which we understand technology and fight poverty.

Suggested Reading

The Politics of Trash: How Governments Used Corruption to Clean Cities, 1890–1929

The Politics of Trash explains how municipal trash collection solved odorous urban problems using nongovernmental and often unseemly means. Focusing on the persistent problems of filth and the frustration of generations of reformers unable to clean their cities, Patricia Strach and Kathleen S. Sulli...

Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America's Police Forces

In "Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America's Police Forces," investigative journalist Radley Balko traces the gradual transformation of American law enforcement from community-oriented peacekeepers to heavily armed forces that increasingly resemble soldiers on a battlefield. He begin...

Latest News

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.