Digitalization, Digital Transformation and Economic Development in the Global South

Monday, 7 July 2025: 11:00-12:45
Location: FSE037 (Faculty of Education Sciences (FSE))
WG10 Digital Sociology (host committee)

Language: English

Globally, digital revolution has reshaped many aspects of human interactions and communication. Digitalization is about the process in which our social institutions and social relationships are influenced and shaped by digital communications and media infrastructures (Brennen & Kreiss, 2016). Digital depth refers to “the extent to which economic activities, transactions, and policies are becoming digital, including through more online, interconnected, and automated systems” (Abdychev, et al., 2020, p. 34). The digital transformation we witnessed today is the logical consequence of the digital depth of societal experiences. In many countries, particularly in Global South, digital transformation strategy has been adopted to remodel the integration and incorporation of digital technology in the economic development, business practices and improvement of delivery services. This session invites papers that address various methodologies in the study of digitalization, digital transformation and economic development in the Global South, including but not limited to the following questions:

  • What are the methodological dilemmas and prospects in the study of digitalization and digital transformation in the Global South?
  • To what extent and in what ways have countries in the Global South responded to the demand of digitalization and digital transformation?
  • In what ways has digitalization contributed to the economic development in Global South?
  • How have universities and research institutions optimized on the new opportunities brought about by digitalization?
  • How does adoption of digitalization contribute to the organizational and labor force management?
  • To what extent has digital technology transformed the nature and dynamics of industrial democracy in the Global South?
Session Organizer:
Gabriel FAIMAU, University of Botswana, Botswana
Oral Presentations
A Dialectic Approach of Women’s Labor Experiences in Ridesharing: The Case of Uber Africa
Abbie-Gayle JOHNSON, Hong Kong
The Food Delivery Apps, a Blessing for Women?
Pauline BAUDENS, Taltech University, Estonia
Digitalizing Urban Spaces: A Socio-Technical Approach to Smart & Sustainable Cities (SSC) in Morocco
Aziza MENOUNI, Morocco; Samir EL JAAFARI, UMI, Morocco; Abdelkrim MARZOUK MARZOUK, Al Akhawayn University Ifrane, Morocco; Min REUSCHAMPS, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium; Marie-Paule KESTEMONT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium
Perception and Adoption of Digital Technologies in Agriculture: Insights from the Fès-Meknès Region
Manal HACHIMI, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco; Mohamed CHIKHAOUI, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco; Mustapha NAIMI, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Morocco; Samir EL JAAFARI, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Morocco; Marie-Paule KESTEMONT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium; Olivier SERVAIS, UCLouvain, Belgium
"Traps" in Digital Mediated Activities and the Response: Short Video Practices in a County-Level Posture Training School in China
Kunyu XIANG XIANG, United Kingdom
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