Extending Access to Information, Education and Entertainment in the Developing Economies: Broadcast Technologies in the British Empire, 1951 to 1962

Abstract

This paper builds on previous work published in this journal by considering the historical roots of poverty in relation to the denial or otherwise of access to the information made available by radio technology. The case study is that of the British Empire in the early post-war years. New dimensions of access that are developing economy sensitive are presented and evaluated. We find that the colonial legacy of radio broadcast is significantly correlated with the diffusion and adoption of radio technologies in subsequent years and that this in terms was largely the reflection of geopolitical considerations. Differential access to information has its roots in the colonial historical past.2 As per the 2001 Human Development Report, making new technologies work for human development and the 1998 Human Development Report Consumption for Human Development. The essential scholarly premises underlying the ideas are set out in Sen, Development. 3 By ICTs, we refer to the wide range of products, which fall into the category of electronics and telecommunications. In the period under review, ICTs can be divided into five broad sectors: radio, radar and other electronic capital goods; electronic consumer goods such as radio and television sets; valves and semi-conductors; radio and electronic components and finally telephone and telegraph apparatus. 4 Goldsworthy, Colonial Issues; Katz and Wedell, Broadcasting in the Third World; Winston, Media. Zanzibar £17.50 na £10 to £15 £10 to £15 Source: Colonial Office, Sound and Television Broadcasting in the Overseas Territories, Handbook (annual).