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Digitalization and Societal Innovation: One Shaping the Other (II)
Abstract Submissions Closed
RC51 Sociocybernetics (host committee)
Language: English
Session Type: Oral
This is the second part of the session “Digitalization and Societal Innovation: One Shaping the Other”.
It is a common understanding that digitalization is profoundly changing our societies. Hopes concern better public services; better jobs; better private enjoyment; better health services; and overall smart living. But there are also threats such as loss in privacy, cyber-violence, and control by algorithms (robotics, self-driving vehicles air/land). However, digitalization happens within societal relations shaping digitalization as well as being shaped by digitalization. Consequently, we can speak about societal innovation.
- The session should contribute the clarification of the concept of societal innovation related to digitalization, dealing with both aspects: shaping and being shaped. System and socio-cybernetic complexity approaches may prove helpful here.
- What are drivers and opponents within this intertwined process? Are they motivated by money, values or being part of a swarm?
- What role plays digitalization in relation to megatrends such as demography (aging, migration), natural resources (food security, biodiversity), and climate change (low carbon energy, circular economy)?
- Is digitalization fostering or threatening democracy? Does it accelerate or hinder inclusion? Does it mitigate or create inequality? What about e-literacy & e-skills and digital divide?
- All these questions may result in the questions of ethics of digitalization. Do we need them? Should there be one ethic or rather several ethics? Who defines them?
Theoretical as well as empirical contributions are welcome dealing with one or more of the aspects mentioned above, including alternative conceptions and reflections of our presently transforming societies.