Technologies for Social Inclusion in Argentina and Brazil: Unidimensional Solutions or Systematic Approaches?

MARIANO FRESSOLI; HERNÁN THOMAS

Londres

Conferencia; Planet Under Pressure 2012. New Knowledge Towards Solutions; 2012

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, International Human Dimension Programme on Global Environmental Change

In Latin America, it is possibly to identify a rising movement of Technologies for Social Inclusion involving NGOs, cooperatives and public R+D agencies developing and implementing technology aimed to generate social and economic dynamics of social inclusion and sustainable development. In some cases, Technologies for Social Inclusion has provided an umbrella and a wider community for projects and initiatives that were already underway. Whilst in other cases, interest in Technologies for Social Inclusion has generated new programmes and initiatives. Our aim in this paper is to explore what is the extension of Technologies for Social Inclusion in the region and what kind of problems these institutions face in developing technological solutions for poverty. We analyze how this actors build-up problems and what kind of solutions and technological choices they made, paying special attention to the possible shortcomings of devising unidirectional, low tech solutions. Finally, we argue that Technologies for Social Inclusion should be considered as key components of scientific and technological policies and of socio-economic development and democratization in Latin America in order to adopt a more systematic approach to poverty and environmental problems.