The Digital Divide: The internet and social inequality in international perspective

This book provides an in-depth comparative analysis of inequality in the digital sphere. Grounded in classical sociological theories of inequality conflict, cultural, and functionalist perspectives it defines 'the digital divide' as the unequal access and utility of internet communications technologies and explores how it has the potential to replicate existing social inequalities, as well as create new forms of stratification. The volume is comprised of five parts focusing on: highly developed nations and regions (including the USA, the EU and Japan); emerging world powers (Brazil, China, India, Russia); Eastern European countries (Estonia, Romania, Serbia); Arab/Middle Eastern nations (Egypt, Iran, Israel); under-studied areas (countries in east Asia, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Asia). The Digital Divideis an important resources for academic and students in sociology, social policy, communication studies and media studies.