The Digital Divide: The Role of Political Institutions in Technology Diffusion
Abstract
What factors have promoted and retarded the spread of the Internet globally? The Internet is one example of the diffusion of technology. Much as other technologies, the Internet has diffused unevenly across countries, raising concerns over a “digital divide.” My main proposition is that its spread has been driven by neither technological nor economic factors alone. Rather, political factors exert a powerful influence. Groups that believe they will lose from the Internet use political institutions to enact policies that block the spread of the Internet. Some political institutions make this easier than others. Data from roughly 190 countries from 1991 to 2001 showthat a country's regime type matters greatly, even when controlling for other economic, technological, political, and sociological factors. Democratic governments facilitate the spread of the Internet relative to autocratic ones. Thus, the spread of democracy may help reduce the digital divide.
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Earlier research found that autocracies were lagging behind in digital innovation and had lower internet penetration rates than democracies.
“While earlier research found that autocracies were lagging behind in digital innovation and internet penetration rates were lower as in their democratic counterparts (Milner, 2006)”
From How Dictators Control the Internet: A Review Essay (2020) · cites this paper as Milner, 2006
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- Authors
- Milner, H. V.
- Affiliations
- Princeton University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Milner, Helen V.
- ORCID
- Milner, Helen V.
- Venue
- Comparative Political Studies
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2006-03
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 176-199
- ISSN
- 0010-4140 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-3829
- OpenAlex
- W2097423358
- Cited by
- 433
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 31
- FWCI
- 77.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Comparative Political Studies (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Media Technology › ICT Impact and Policies
- Social Sciences › General Social Sciences › Information Society and Technology Trends
- Social Sciences › Communication › Social Media and Politics
- Keywords
- digital divide, Internet diffusion, political regimes, democracy, authoritarian regimes, political institutions, technology diffusion, internet access, political economy of technology
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