The Development of Convergence

Hanson’s proposal that convergences of technologies, industries, economies and government policies define modern globalization trends has led me to suggest that development efforts should reflect a similarly multifaceted approach. As nations become increasingly interconnected, responsibility for the development of the third world is globally shared and can be more effectively achieved through integrated communication approaches.

Although The Information Revolution and World Politics presents both optimistic and pessimistic views of the effectiveness of development efforts, I feel that culturally appropriate communication technologies reflecting collective expertise are unquestionably invaluable. Antiquated and innovative mediums of communication can provide marginalized people with the ability to advocate for the changes needed to better their lives. Such tools can elicit social change at the grassroots level and allow for the quicker, more accurate transfer of information for the implementation of culturally fitting development strategies from the bottom up.

While critics use the case of India’s Information Technology market boom to demonstrate flaws in communication based advancement efforts, I offer the theory that IC techniques should be applied for effective development as a priority of respective third world nations and global civil society. Hanson portrays India’s specialization in IT as a debated failure of modern technology in which the country’s rich have become richer and the cycle of illiteracy and poverty for the low class majority persists. Just as innovators in science, engineering and business have historically merged to overcome challenges and form new technologies for means of national defense, I believe a similar convergence should take place, as a national and international priority, to enhance the effectiveness of contemporary development practices in India and other struggling states.

The amalgamation of such factors as Hanson’s proposed Information Revolution, the Global Economy, and the Distribution of Wealth clearly reveals the comprehensiveness that development efforts must embody in globalized society. With shared accountability to the third world, all nations must employ the proper communication tools to successfully stimulate societal change.