How Mobile Platform Empowers Villagers in Rural Governance?From Digital Divide to Social Inclusion

Abstract

Digital divide and social inclusion in rural area are important social and economic issues. Mobile platform is regarded as a new information and communication technology (ICT) to motivate villagers inner strength, achieve digital divide elimination and social inclusion. Based on the case of WeCountry in Chinese rural area, this study illustrates how mobile platform bridge digital divide and empower villagers in rural governance. Results show that: (1) mobile platform has functions of village management, affective interaction and e-commerce; (2) according to different types, mobile platform can empower villagers in structural, psychological and resource dimensions; (3) platform provider and government help the empowerment process as the technology supplier and platform regulator, and politic pusher, respectively; (4) through empowerment, there are three dimensions of social inclusion can be achieved: political inclusion, social participation inclusion and economic inclusion, which result in digital divide elimination. This paper concludes with the theoretical and practical implications.