Supervisor: Robin Mansell
Research Topic: ICTs, the internet and Africa: Meeting social, political or economic needs?
My research concerns the politics, political economy and socio-economic effects of the internet and ICTs (information and communication technologies) in Africa. It aims to provide critical reflection on the structure, limits, power and interests behind the spread of digital infrastructure and technology. I am interested in the claims behind the internet as a socially transformative tool (or even alleviator of poverty) and 'technology for development', the politics behind internet access, donors' historical role in ICT development, ICTs as a source of 'political capital' and potential tensions between meeting social need and achieving a return on investment. Before coming to the LSE I worked for Fahamu - Networks for Social Justice |as publications officer of Pambazuka Press and assistant editor of Pambazuka News. Prior to this I completed an MSc in African studies at the University of Oxford, worked as a sports teacher trainer in northern Cameroon for a year and completed a BA (hons) in comparative American studies at the University of Warwick.
Email: a.j.free@lse.ac.uk|