The concept of an information society has a relatively short history, but it can be placed firmly in a longer political tradition of theorising the ongoing changes associated with the shift away from industrialism to radical new forms of socio-economic organisation.  Thinkers such as Daniel Bell, Manuel Castells, Frank Webster and William Martin have advanced our understanding in this area.  One key debate is how to define the information society, with a distinction between broad economic and socio-cultural conceptions.

Read more about the history of information society theory on our introduction page.

News

Knowledge Politics Quarterly
3 October 2007
Knowledge Politics has today launched a new interdisciplinary online journal, KPQ.  The first issue features articles from leading academics including Robert Hassan, Fred Flagg and Alberto Massetti-Zannini.  Introducing the journal, Editor Craig Berry said, "The time has come for academics and experts to look across disciplinary borders and provide a concerted focus on the politics of knowledge. For whatever reason, this is not done enough – and as a result we are failing to learn vital insights from other researchers. It is my hope that KPQ can play a small part in rectifying this."
More information and submission guidance here
View the latest issue

Knowledge Politics head asks for new look at ideology of information society
24 January 2007
Craig Berry, Head of Politics at Knowledge Politics, has called argued that comprehensive explanations for the shape of contemporary globalisation can only be achieved by studying the ideologies of political actors.  Speking at a conference of the Centre for International Politics at the University of Manchester, Berry referred to the political actors involved in the formation of information society policy at the EU level as a key example of where ideologies have informed the direction of public policy.  He said analytical progress could be made by, "studying ideologies of political actors, to assess their agency on its own terms, rather than assuming its meaning."

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Publications and research

Mobile Communication and Society: A Global Perspective
Manuel Castells, Mireia Fernandez-Ardevol, Jack Linchuan Qiu & Araba Sey
This new book looks at how the possibility of multimodal communication from anywhere to anywhere at any time affects everyday life at home, at work, and at school, and raises broader concerns about politics and culture both global and local.  Drawing on data gathered from around the world, the authors explore who has access to wireless technology, and why, and analyze the patterns of social differentiation seen in unequal access.
More information here

Defining the Knowledge Economy
The Work Foundation
This paper from the Work Foundation seeks to find a coherent definition of the 'knowledge economy', in order to allow researchers to measure in a robust way through national and international statistical and survey data the knowledge economy, the knowledge workforce and the knowledge-based firm.
Read the report here

Ideas, interests and information: Conflicting visions of a supranational information society
Richard Berry and Craig Berry
In the summer issue of IPPR's journal Public Policy Research, this article by Knowledge Politics' heads of research and policy examines how the history of information society policy in Europe was defined by the dominance of a neo-liberal economic agenda, with broadcasting the current issue for debate in this area.
Read the article here

Free software and open source: the freedom debate and its consequences
Mathias Klang - First Monday
This article introduces the range of philosophical views regarding the relationship between free and open-source software and notions of freedom.
Read the article here

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Links

Technomanifestos
Online network exploring the intersections of technology and society, computers and culture, information and meaning.
http://www.technomanifestos.net

Political Economy Research Centre
Research body at the University of Sheffield.
http://www.shef.ac.uk/perc

Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation
Research body at the University of Warwick.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/csgr

European Institute
International centre for the study of contemporary Europe at London School of Economics.
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/europeanInstitute

Journal of European Public Policy
Public policy journal focusing mainly on EU and incorporating range of social science.
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/routledge/13501763.html

Public Policy Research
In-house quarterly journal from leading progressive think-tank.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1744-5396&site=1

New Media and Society
International journal providing interdisciplinary forum for examination of the dynamics of media and information change.
http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journalsProdDesc.nav?prodId=Journal200834

Telematics & Informatics
Interdisciplinary journal focusing on the social impacts of new technologies.
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/703/description#description

European Journal of Communication
International journal specialising in communication research.
http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journalsProdDesc.nav?prodId=Journal200857

Social Europe
Journal of the European left.
http://www.social-europe.eu

Journal of Common Market Studies
Leading journal on European integration issues.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0021-9886&site=1

First Monday
Peer-moderated publication on net culture and structure.
http://www.firstmonday.org

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Events

Pathways to Legitimacy?
17-19 September 2007 - Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation, University of Warwick
Conference on the future of global and regional governance.
Click here for more information


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