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This book investigates the use of digital technologies for social organisation during the Covid-19 pandemic, interrogating the specific relationship between digital technologies and social movements. Drawing upon Marx's theory of alienation and Antonio Gramsci's concepts concerning common-sense, good sense, hegemony and praxis, the author examines the effectiveness of digital technologies in filling the social void created by the pandemic.
A series of in-depth interviews across a spectrum of areas - from community activism, mental health, trade union organisation, the creative arts, and resistance movements - reveal how digital technologies flourished during the pandemic crisis, facilitating new ways to communicate. However, the interviews also throw into sharp relief the inadequacies of digital technologies. The book challenges conventional wisdom concerning the beneficial impact of digital machines on our lives.
This book will have a broad appeal to anyone researching or teaching the societal, ethical and political implications of digital technologies, particularly from a qualitative perspective. It also has relevance for a wider readership concerned about the influence of social media.
List of contents
Chapter 1: COVID-19, Digital Technologies - a challenging time.- Chapter 2: COVID-19, digital technologies, and labour organisation.- Chapter 3: Digital technologies, Covid and mutual aid.- Chapter 4: COVID-19, digital technologies and coping with mental health.- Chapter 5: COVID-19, digital technologies, and the creative arts.- Chapter 6: Covid-19, digital technologies, and protest movements.- Chapter 7: Conclusion.
About the author
Dr Mike Healy, formerly a senior lecturer at the Westminster Business School, University of Westminster, is an independent researcher with 20 years of experience researching and teaching the ethical and societal implications of digital technologies. He has published widely on ethics and ICT, diversity and employment in the ICT sector, ICT and teaching, the development and problems of e-government in Europe and Africa, and the relationship between alienation and dignity in the IT sector. His previous book,
Marx and Digital Machines explored the relation between alienation and digital technologies.
