Islam & the Internet: Telecommunications and Technology in the Muslim World

ITRN701/PUBP710: Islam & the Internet: Telecommunications and Technology in the Muslim World.
Tuesdays, 4:30pm, ARL251
Instructor: Stephen Ruth, Professor of Public Policy and Technology Management (ruth@gmu.edu);
Office : Room 203B Finley; Phone : 703 993 1789; Office hours: by appointment;
URL for the course : http://www.icasit.org/classes/itrn701009fall2002/index.html
URL for instructor: http://www.icasit.org/ruth/index.htm

Overview and Description-Approaching the Course Topics from Three Perspectives: Review of Intellectual Territory, Broad Analysis of Selected Major Themes and Individual, Focused Research

The aim of this course is to examine some of the key issues associated with technology diffusion in the Muslim World. We will approach this broad subject from three perspectives in order to permit maximum coverage and ample customization of course material to students' needs. First, there will be a mini-tutorial on the intellectual territory: regional issues, technology diffusion history and data sources will be discussed and about a dozen short exercises will be given.. Some of the lectures and study materials for this mini-tutorial will be provided off line.

The second, and most significant, perspective is that of public policy. What is the effect of technology diffusion, or the lack of it, on public policy. To what degree will the increasing use of Internet and Electronic Commerce in delivering government services change standards of living in the Muslim world? Is the "Digital Divide" a serious problem, and if so, what can be done to alleviate its effects? What economic effects might broadband proliferation have ? Will telemedicine and other Internet interventions cause major reductions in the death rates due to starvation in the world's poorer countries or will twenty thousand children continue to die of hunger and malnutrition every day? We will divide these policy matters into several segments and each student in the course will be asked to select a few of them for more detailed emphasis.

The third perspective is the student's own. A term paper or other type of research activity will allow each person in the course to select a subject for more detailed review. This research perspective has only one goal-to permit the student to learn more about a topic within the course's coverage by delving more deeply into the literature surrounding it.

Assignments: The selection of assignments is based on providing each student with the breadth needed to take advantage of the rich array of resources offered, but, most importantly, to give a challenging academic experience. The course requires a lot of writing. There are three major assignments:

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