is bulgaria an equitable information society

8/13/2019 Is Bulgaria an Equitable Information Society

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IS BULGARIA AN EQUITABLEINFORMATION SOCIETY?

ACADEMIC ESSAY

ADVANCED THEORETICAL DEBATES: NEW MEDIA AND SOCIETYMASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES

YANA HRABROVA NATOVA


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Advanced Theoretical Debates: New Media and SocietyMaster of Communication Studies

Yana Hrabrova NatovaAcademic Essay

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Yana Hrabrova Natova

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Abstract:In this essay I would attempt to describe the historical evolution and spread of the e-

society in Bulgaria. I would further try to give explanation of the reasons behind the slow tempt

of development of the information society in Bulgaria and support my claim through statistics

and theories which apply both to Bulgaria in specific and to the universal type of information

society. For the purposes of my essay I would follow the historical development of Bulgaria

starting from the period before 1989 and finishing with the situation of today. To further explain

why Bulgaria is not an equitable information society per se I would rely both on data and on

social and economic context.

The information society is a result of a societal evolution based on three main stages.Starting with the first industrial revolution in the late 18th century which was characterized by the

birth of new technologies such as the steam engine, the spinning machine, metallurgical process

on the court and in the broader replacement of hand tools with machinery; going through the

second industrial revolution from the late 19th century which included the development of

electricity, the internal combustion engine, artificial chemicals, effective casting process of steel

and the start of communication technology which heralded the spread of the telegraph and the

invention of the telephone; we reach the late 20th century which carries the largest and most

pervasive technological revolution in the history of mankind and information: the arrival of the

Internet. Which resulted in a fundamental restructuring of the capitalist system and encountered a


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new social structure, a new form of development: postindustrial or information or network

society as Bell and Webster put it.

This new phenomenon began as a computer network which appeared about 30 years ago

on a project of the military department of the United States in an attempt to create a network

linking computer networks of military bases in other radio or satellite communication. This

experimental network bore the name ARPAnet and was destined to serve the research of military

and civil institutions and in particular the development of the network. Later the project outgrew

its military purposes and reached the public. Today the Internet is a collection of computer

networks, which include different topology and type of networks as ARPAnet, NSFnet, Nysnet,

local networks, regional networks, university networks, computer networks of research institutes

and a number of networks of military departments. Thus, access to information and knowledge

became the main engine of economic growth. Knowledge economy came to replace our

traditional notion of labor and capital as the main drivers of the common market and power

struggle. The fall of almost all physical barriers to the dissemination of information and the

increasingly globalizing world add absolutely new, qualitatively, features to the information

society: global access, use of information and communication networks and services without

national, geographical, political or other constraints.

In Bulgaria the creation and development of an information society was and still is a

rather slow and filled with obstacles process. Before 1989 my countrys place within the

socialist division of labor in the former COMECON defined its access t o technology and

information. The import of computers, software and all technology products was limited and

some were even banned. Of course, there was black market import, but due to the peculiar


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economic situation and the limited number of items it was almost impossible to buy technology

of any sort.

Due to this ban on Western products on the market, Bulgaria relied mainly on the research

provided by the Soviet block, or had to violate the laws and import illegally. In fact, such was the

case with most countries in the COMECON, what made Bulgaria differ was its role in the

production and design of microcomputers for the other countries from the entire COMECON.

Our government invested impressive amounts of money into the building of research centers,

import of the required machinery for the production of microchips and computers. Even the

education system was alternated to the needs of the market. Universities had special programs for

the education of computer engineers.

As a result by the middle of the 1980s Bulgarian microelectronics factories and computer

industries produced for the entire Soviet Union. This changed after the collapse of socialist

system in Bulgaria. The fall of the bans showed that what my country produced as quality

technology was far less effective and far more expensive than the western rival production and

this applied not only to computers, but to all sorts of technology. Therefore, after 1990

production in the sector shrank over 40 times.

If we trace the development from policy point of view we would notice a significant

difference in the policies in the years before and after 1998. Before 1998 there were no

specialized policies in regard to the information society. This was due to two main reasons.

During the high points of technology production in Bulgaria all activities of such kind were

supervised by the state security services and financing was never transparent, because of different

party officials being involved. When the old regime collapsed the people who knew the details


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about those production and export projects used this knowledge to their advantage and much of

the funding went into their personal bank accounts. Therefore, it was politically impossible to

gain support for specialized government spending on the very same companies and projects that

were commonly believed to have seized public funds in the beginning of the transition.

The other main obstacle to the creation IS policies was that the government was not

prepared for the unexpected change from an economy that had a strict plan of development to a

market that was uneven and filled with political turmoil. In a period of seven years after 1990,

Bulgaria changed seven different governments which significantly delayed the development of

the market and economy of the country. The outcome was instability and chaos.

Still, though, the idea of an information society was not absolutely forgotten. The

development of IS was still in discussion and major companies and players in field continued

their struggle to preserve it. But no laws or detailed strategies ever saw realization. In the period

government policies were focused on funds, rater than on the actual usage of modernized

technology.

After 1998 the situation lightened and things began to change. As the table shows funding

changed and found place in the budget of a separate ministry.


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Year

National Scientific Research Fund(in mln ECU)

National Fund Structural and Technology Policy (in mln ECU)

1992 1,767 2,900

1993 2,553 3,223

1994 2,327 n.a

1995 2,609 1,821

1996 1,369 1,372

1997 0,358 0,358

1998 0,438 0,439

1999* 0,295

2000* 0,217

2001 * 0,149

Table: Financing through state funds for science and technology policy* Included in the budget of the Ministry of Education and Science .

The first document after 1989 that was directed toward the creation of internet society

was the National Strategy for Development of High Technologies. The goal of the strategy was to

foster the further development of high tech industry in Bulgaria. In it there were several priorities

that were set. It puts focus on microelectronics, telecommunication equipment, information

technologies, energy generation and efficiency, biotechnologies etc. The government ensured its

part in three main areas: policy and governance, modernization and reforms, facilitation and

mediation between companies, academia and international programs.

The establishment of High Technology Parks was the main aspect of the strategy. As the

government puts it, the strategy was designed to facilitate the creation of separate zone, which

include land, buildings and infrastructure. These zones were to be managed by legal entities

whose aim was to create an environment suitable for high technology development.


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By establishing this strategy the priorities for the creation and facilitation of an information

society were stated. Amongst the priorities and goals of the government were the overall legal

frameworks, which of course had to be harmonized with the framework of the EU; also the

ensuring of equality of access to quality communication and information services and finally

unobstructed use of information communication technologies on all levels of social life. The

subject of funding and legislative reforms was also included. Amongst them fell topics like

access to information, telecommunications, electronic trade, development of internet as a global

communication environment, electronic media etc. What makes the strategy so important in the

development of the information society in Bulgaria is that it included all aspects of social life:

government (establishment of uniform information and communication environment for all

government institutions), economy (introduction of ICT in banking, transport, energy and

agricultural sectors), education and scientif ic research, the priorities included the introduction of

ICTs in labor market institutions, social safety nets, healthcare and culture, as well as in

electronic media.

The steps that followed were the foundation of National Program for the Development of

IS and the adoption of National Strategy for Electronic Commerce in June 2000. These two

allowed Bulgaria the chance to participate in the global e-commerce transactions and to be an e-

commerce leader of South East Europe.


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Reasons behind your choice not to use Internet Result in percents

I dont know how to use the Internet 56.4

I dont know what Internet is 31.3

I am not interested 29.8

I dont have enough time in front of a computer 24.4

It is too expensive 21.3

I dont know foreign languages 13.8

I fear to use technology 8.5

Table: Vitosha Research 2005, Reasons behind your choice not to use Internet (%)

Of course, the creation and adoption of policies and frameworks doesnt necessarily

ensure that an information society is equitable. There are different obstacles and obstruction in

regard to the different demographic factors. Amongst the strongest factors for computers to enter

into households are the level of education and whether there is or there is not a student/ pupil

member of the family. This combined with the effect of the network the extent to which the

Internet and computers are used within the social surrounding of the individual the extent of

willingness of the same individual to buy and use the same tools for communication as his peer

can either grow or not. The relative price of Internet access/usage is a factor with decreasing

importance but still is of major importance to the extent and frequency of usage to Bulgarian

people. In 2005 only one third of the population pointed the price of internet services as a main

reason for them not to get connected. Of bigger importance is the lack of interest or the inability

to use the Internet properly. If we look at the diagram below we could easily point out a

conditional level between BGN 400-500 above which the usage of Internet per week is far denser

than with households with lower income.


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Table: Vitosha Research 2004, Internet usage according to household income (%)

According to researches done in the period 2004-2005 the e-society index in Bulgaria

increases far more intensely than it did before, but its markers remain low. Even though the

number of computers per household has doubled for a year the extent to which the Internet is

used is too small: users tend to confine themselves to the use of a limited amounts of applications

and sites. Researches from this year show that of the population uses Internet, but there are still

some percents of the population that remain restricted in their access. Under 2% of the nomad

people in Bulgaria use Internet, people of Turkish descend under 5%, the lowest percentage of

use is amongst pensioners 1.1%.


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Table: National Statistical Institute of Republic of Bulgaria, Proportion of

households with Internet access and access to broadband Internet.

(http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17 )

Researches done by National Statistical Institute of Republic of Bulgaria show that

Bulgarian users access Internet for three main reasons, entertainment, information and business.

Financial transaction operations and online shopping are gaining trust, but are still rarely used in

comparison to other countries. The main reason for this is the low level of awareness of the

existence of these services and the general mistrust towards cyber space. There is an extremely

low level of trust in electronic banking, though more and more banks offer the service. This has

changed in the last year and the index had risen. See the table:
http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17


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Table: National Statistical Institute of Republic of Bulgaria, Proportion of people whohave ordered / bought goods or used services for personal purposes on the Internet in 2012and 2013 (http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17 )

Having in mind all data mentioned above and relating it to the date to date reality we see

Websters definition of society in practice. According to him quantitative changes in

information are bringing into being a qualitatively new sort of social system, the information

society. After the collapse of the old regime in Bulgaria there was an overflow of information

and new technology. In the last twenty years there has been a slow but steady increase in the

index of e-society in my country. It took us a couple of years to shake off from the old ways and

to create a plan for development of a new and modern e-country.

But if we take Bells view of the information society we see that it could be related only

to the last 10 years of Bulgarias development. Aft er 2002 the amount of technology imported

into the country is over 40 times bigger, therefore, we have all the characteristics to be a Bell-
http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=17


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type information society, but still I believe Manuel Castells informational mode of

development is what best fits Bulgarias case. In his book The Rise of the Network Society he

talks about the 'new economy', which he claims is based on 'a new mode of development,

informationalism, of which networking is a critical attribute. He also claims that uneven

development of new technology leads to 'social polarization and social exclusion'. And I believe

that this conclusion best fits what happened to Bulgaria in historical and social aspect in the last

20 years. Therefore, Bulgaria is no typical equitable e-society, although it shares more and more

characteristics of the different theories. We all have access, but we still have to work on giving an

equal knowledge base of use to everyone.

Bibliography:

1. Chobanova, Rossitsa. Information Society Development in Bulgaria. Sofia-2003

2. Varbanov, Rumen . Bulgaria in the European information space (Contents and

Introduction. Economic World Collection. issue: 88 / 2007. pages: 110, on www.ceeol.com

3. National Strategy for Information Society Development , adopted by the Government in

1999, updated in 2002. Source: www.mtc.government.bg

4. NSI (2002) Statistical Yearbook 2001, Bulgaria

5. Report of the European Commission on the progress towards accession by each of

candidate countries , Brussels, 09.10.2002, SEC/2002/ 1400-1412

6. SIBIS, Topic report No.3 Security and Trust, RAND Europe, www.sibis-eu.org

7. EUROSTAT (2002), Statistical yearbook on candidate and south-east European countries,

1996-2000
http://www.ceeol.com/http://www.ceeol.com/http://www.ceeol.com/http://www.sibis-eu.org/http://www.sibis-eu.org/http://www.sibis-eu.org/http://www.sibis-eu.org/http://www.ceeol.com/


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-

(my translation: Survey Findings on the Use of ICT by

Households and Individuals) . National Statistical Institute of Republic of Bulgaria.

http://www.nsi.bg/sites/default/files/files/pressreleases/ICT_hh2013_HI2EOPE.pdf

9. E-Bulgaria . Foundation Applied Research and Communication 2005 Report

10. Castells, Manuel. The Rise of the Network Society (The Information Age: Economy,

Society and Culture, Volume 1. Wiley-Blackwell; 2nd edition (January 15, 2000)

11. Webster, Frank. Theories of the Information Society. Third Edition. 2006
http://www.nsi.bg/sites/default/files/files/pressreleases/ICT_hh2013_HI2EOPE.pdfhttp://www.nsi.bg/sites/default/files/files/pressreleases/ICT_hh2013_HI2EOPE.pdfhttp://www.nsi.bg/sites/default/files/files/pressreleases/ICT_hh2013_HI2EOPE.pdf

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