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Caught in the web : an analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-126).
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| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Political Studies
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613274065862656 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Ranchod, Yudhvir |
| author2 | Naidoo, G |
| author_browse | Naidoo, G Ranchod, Yudhvir |
| author_facet | Naidoo, G Ranchod, Yudhvir |
| author_sort | Ranchod, Yudhvir |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-126). |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/3719 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:31.121Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | Department of Political Studies |
| publisherStr | Department of Political Studies |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/3719 Caught in the web : an analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime Ranchod, Yudhvir Naidoo, G Political Studies Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-126). This study provides a descriptive analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime. Compelled by a combination of hegemonic influences and its own self interest, this study argues that South Africa accepted the liberalising commitments of the emerging global information policy regime vis-a-vis the World Trade Organization Agreement on Basic Telecommunications. As a contribution to understanding inter-state cooperation in international relations, regime theory is utilised as the theoretical framework. The regime framework is used to explain the motivations behind South Africa's intention to liberalise its telecommunications sector as a result of power dynamics in the international system. The findings from the qualitative analysis note that South Africa's response is motivated by systemic and domestic factors. A willingness to enter the information economy and fulfil domestic social development means that South Africa has to balance its obligations to the WTO with the commitments to improve its domestic accessibility concerns. As a developing country with inadequate conditions for liberalisation, South Africa was unable to stop the strategic equity partners from capitalising on the poorly regulated telecommunications environment. The unfavourable result of high tariff charges and low fixed-line connectivity can be attributed to privatisation initiatives and lack of political will to promote competition. South Africa is in the midst of dramatic change in its telecommunications sector which is aided by technological convergence, further privatisation of the incumbent and the introduction of the Second Network Operator. The international scope of this study means that liberalisation is part of South Africa's broader commitments to the emerging global information policy regime. Entering the information economy is conditional on the successful implementation of international liberalisation policies so that the required investment and skills can assist in providing universal service to the majority of South Africa citizens. However, implementation requires a fair market structure, independent regulation and low interconnection charges. Without these important structures in place, this study notes that the goal of participation in the information economy and economic growth as a result of effective telecommunication utilisation is a distant reality. 2014-07-30T03:45:48Z 2014-07-30T03:45:48Z 2008 Master Thesis Masters MSocSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3719 eng application/pdf Department of Political Studies Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Political Studies Ranchod, Yudhvir Caught in the web : an analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Caught in the web : an analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime |
| title_full | Caught in the web : an analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime |
| title_fullStr | Caught in the web : an analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caught in the web : an analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime |
| title_short | Caught in the web : an analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime |
| title_sort | caught in the web an analysis of south africa s response to the emerging global information policy regime |
| topic | Political Studies |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3719 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ranchodyudhvir caughtinthewebananalysisofsouthafricasresponsetotheemergingglobalinformationpolicyregime |