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The Contribution of ICT to Freedom and Democracy: An Empirical Analysis of Archival Data on the Middle East
Author(s) -
Shirazi Farid
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the electronic journal of information systems in developing countries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.41
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 1681-4835
DOI - 10.1002/j.1681-4835.2008.tb00243.x
Subject(s) - middle east , information and communications technology , democracy , politics , political science , development economics , geography , economic growth , economy , economics , law
This study is based on an empirical analysis of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) archival data for ten Middle Eastern countries: Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and United Arab Emirates for the period of 1995–2003. Some previous studies consider the impact of ICT on socio‐economic development in the region. Using a set of regression analyses, this paper shows that ICT expansion in the Middle East has not only resulted in the reduction of the Digital Divide between this region and developed countries, it has also had a positive impact on promoting democracy and freedom of expression in a region that suffers most from political, social and global conflicts (Freedom House, 2006; Reporters Without Borders, 2005).