Bridging digital and knowledge divides: Concepts, frameworks and ethical concerns

Abstract

Since time immemorial, the hegemonic imposition of cultural and political power asymmetries has resulted in the de jure and de facto exclusion of certain groups from the common weal. Withe the introduction of digital information and communication technologies (ICT), the rifts between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have‐nots’ have expanded at nearly exponential rates. To provide an instrument for analysing the complexities of bridging the digital and knowledge divides, a conceptual framework is presented that provides different perspectives on agency in the commonwealth and the infosphere, which, in turn, leads to a discussion of the operationalization of ethics and justice in human rights that directly affect the entelechy of wellbeing. This discussion provides a basis for exploring certain aspects of social‐cultural barriers to wellbeing, the commodification of human rights, digital imperialism and cultural hegemonies in the world polity, including the infosphere, that have a direct bearing on the wellbeing of all in the common weal. A summary and a call‐to‐action complete the study.