This page provides a listing of unsolicited external reviews of Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World: an Emancipatory Manifesto, as well as material inspired by reading parts of the book.
AHM. Bazlur Rahman on Facebook, 3 February 2026
In Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World: An Emancipatory Manifesto, Prof. Dr. Tim Unwin confronts the pressing challenges of using digital technologies to address global inequalities, offering both a critique of past failures and a compelling call for more meaningful and sustainable practices.
In Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World: An Emancipatory Manifesto, Prof. Dr. Tim Unwin confronts the pressing challenges of using digital technologies to address global inequalities, offering both a critique of past failures and a compelling call for more meaningful and sustainable practices.
This book is particularly pertinent to the South Asian context, including Bangladesh, where the rapid adoption of digital technologies in development initiatives often fails to reach the poorest and most marginalized communities. Unwin’s work is a timely intervention in this debate, offering insightful critiques while proposing a framework for more inclusive digital practices.
One of the strengths of Unwin’s analysis lies in his ability to blend academic rigor with accessible language, making complex issues around technology, geopolitics, and development comprehensible to a wide range of readers. His exploration of the intersection between digital technologies and late capitalism resonates deeply with the experiences of countries like Bangladesh, where rapid digital adoption often overlooks systemic issues of inequality, exclusion, and power imbalances. Unwin’s critique of the “innovation fetish” and short-termism inherent in the digital development industry strikes a chord with the South Asian context, where the overemphasis on cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain often disregards the realities faced by those living in poverty.
The book makes a strong case for the need to shift away from an instrumental view of digital technology—one focused on mere technological solutions—and towards a more human-centered approach that prioritizes social and economic justice. Unwin urges practitioners to focus not on the technology itself, but on how it can be used to address deeper structural issues, such as poverty, access to education, and health care. This resonates with the experience of NGOs and civil society organizations in Bangladesh, where many digital initiatives aimed at addressing education or healthcare gaps fall short because they fail to engage with local contexts and the lived experiences of the people they are meant to serve.
Unwin’s emphasis on responsibility as a central component of digital inclusion is another noteworthy aspect of the book. He advocates for a “responsibilities agenda” that holds both governments and corporations accountable for the impact of their digital initiatives. In Bangladesh, where digital governance and regulation are still in their infancy, this call for responsibility could not be more timely. Unwin’s vision calls for inclusive policy frameworks that ensure digital technologies benefit all segments of society, particularly the most vulnerable.
Moreover, Unwin’s call for empowerment over individualism is critical in a South Asian context where many digital projects are designed with a top-down approach, often failing to engage with the community members who are supposed to benefit from them. By shifting the focus to community empowerment, Unwin advocates for a more participatory approach to digital development, where local knowledge and needs guide the use of technology. This is an important shift, especially in Bangladesh, where there is a growing recognition of the need for local ownership in development projects.
While the book excels in its critique, it also offers practical suggestions for improving digital inclusion, including the creation of inclusive digital platforms, the fostering of digital literacy, and the building of more robust local ecosystems that support sustainable digital development. These suggestions provide a roadmap for practitioners in Bangladesh and beyond, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of digital inclusion that goes beyond the mere provision of technology.
In conclusion, Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World is a valuable contribution to the discourse on digital development. It offers a powerful critique of past failures while providing a thoughtful and practical guide for future efforts. For policymakers, civil society, and development practitioners in South Asia, Unwin’s manifesto serves as both a warning and a guide to creating a more inclusive and equitable digital future.
AHM. Bazlur Rahman | Specialist in Advancing Digital Democracy & Ambassador for Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Bangladesh & Member of the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) WSIS+20 Working Group | ceo@bnnrc.net
Poem by Georg Steinfelder, Inspired by reading Paul Spiesberger’s contribution to Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World: An Emancipatory Manifesto on “Spinning Digital Cotton to Counter Digital Colonialism”, 26 February 2026
Der Text kommt beim Schreiben
sag ich mir
aber er kommt nicht
und doch bin ich mittendrin
ich spinne die Gedanken
kann nicht schlafen
gehe in meinem eigenen Kopf umher
aus dem Herz dringt empor was ich nicht ignorieren kann
.
Ich lebe in einer Gesellschaft von Spiegeln
und es fällt mir schwer sie von Fenstern zu unterscheiden
Ich sehe nur mich
so oft
die anderen hinter mir
im Spiegel vergrößern sich alle Distanzen
ich brauche keine Angst du haben
vor Berührung
mich beunruhigt wie mich das beruhigt
.
Frühling bietet Stoff
für neue Gedanken
für neue Gefühle
für Berührung
weit weg von den Spiegeln
die die Sonne brechen
ich blicke ihr direkt ins Auge
und muss grinsen
wenn ich die Lider schließe
und ihre Farben
auch im Dunkeln
mein Blickfeld kitzeln
.
Ich spinne
ich weiß das
und spinne froh und munter weiter
echte Gedanken
und digitale Baumwolle
denn die großen Spiegel
stehen auf dünnen Beinen
Wir werden uns an sie erinnern
wenn wir unsere Baumwolldecke
über ihre Scherben ausbreiten
ICT4D Collective 