디지털전환 시대 비판적 국제개발협력을 위한 이론적 고찰

Abstract

Purpose: Over the past 40 years, theoretical and empirical studies that investigate the relationship between information and communication technologies and development have accumulated under the name of ‘ICT for Development’. This paper critically reconstructs the historical evolution of this field, summarizes the theoretical debates, and proposes the direction and key conceptual questions to be explored beyond the existing ICT4D paradigm in the era of digital transformation.
 Originality: ICTs have received spotlight as an innovative tool for providing catch-up and leapfrogging opportunities for developing countries, reducing the transaction cost in development mechanism and increasing individual capability. Despite large investments and high expectations for technologies, its effectiveness for development has been questionable, and the large gap between theories and empirical findings have been criticized. Moreover, the wake of the pandemic has called for digital transformation to become a global agenda, providing a turning point for the ICT4D field. Therefore, it is timely to provide reflections on the major theoretical frameworks and critically review the historical evolution of the fields.
 Methodology: This study conducts a thematic qualitative analysis based on the proceedings of the IFIP ‘Implications of Information and Digital Technologies for Development’ and ICTD conferences, providing methodological triangulation by diverse primary data sources including participant observation in the program committees.
 Result: This study provides a historical overview of the ICT4D field broken down into five phases: 1) Emergence, 2) Formation, 3) Expansion, 4) Diffusion and 5) Digital Transformation. It also critically reconstructs conceptual evolution and research contributions of the main studies. This is followed by a discussion of future research agenda, emphasis on multi-disciplinarity and reconceptualization of the field.
 Conclusions and Implication: Existing research have dominantly been conducted at the micro-level unit of analysis, applying an interpretivist epistemological approach and focusing on system as a technological artefact. In the era of digital transformation, it is inevitable for the mainstream view to incorporate theoretical, methodological, and contextual pluralism. This will also have implications for Korea’s international development cooperation, which lacks critical empirical research and philosophical debate despite high expectations for science, technology and ICT ODA.