Change at hand: Web 2.0 for development

Abstract

There are dozens of emerging interactive web applications and services (often referred to as the participatory web, or Web 2.0). These can enhance the ways we create, share, and publish information. But these technical opportunities also bring challenges that we need to understand and grasp. Some of the key questions that this special issue will seek to address include: How can Web 2.0 applications be integrated with participatory development approaches? How can they facilitate and contribute to people's participation and decision-making? What are the challenges and barriers to people's participation? How do we address factors such as access, equity, control, and oversight? Can Web 2.0 applications challenge fundamental social inequalities? This special issue aims to publish a collection of articles, which provide working examples from practice.