Master Thesis

Master Thesis Internet in the developing world: finding the social link between technology and development in Peru Annette Zimmermann ID 982130 Maastricht University Faculty of Arts and Culture Society, Science and Technology Studies August 2004 Supervisor: Louk de la Rive Box Annette Zimmermann University of Maastricht Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincere gratitude towards Alternativa and all other organizations, friends and participants in Lima, who have agreed to collaborate with me on this research. Without their partnership, this type of study would have been impossible. Special thanks go to my family and friends who have given me great support. I also want to thank my supervisors Myriam Diocaretz and Louk de la Rive Box who have supported me with constructive ideas and encouraged me to conduct fieldwork in Peru. My sincerest thanks to: Alternativa – Santiago Carrigan, Alcides Roman, Edwin Cansaya Herrera, Rubén Grovas, Maritza Caycho, Cristina Lino Banco de Crédito Perú – Jorge Ventura, Miguel Villanueva ITDG – Miguel Saravia RCP – Eduardo Santoyo Cadena Terra Networks Peru – Alfredo Arosemena TIM Perú – Carlos Arieta Universidad del Pacifico – Enrique Saravia WI-NET – Arturo Zivera, José Antonio Corso Abraham Martinez, Gionmarco Vilca Castillo, Abel Hurtado, Eric Meijer, Diego Santa María Adolfo Vinatea and Ingrid Regout. Master Thesis 2004 2 ESST specialization – Bridging the technological divide Annette Zimmermann University of Maastricht Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Academic relevance ........................................................................................................... 11 1.3 Structure of the thesis......................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 2: Theoretical framework 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.2 Social capital: a conceptual framework ............................................................................. 14 2.2.1 Resource-based approach vs. Putnam’s approach....................................................... 14 2.2.2 Open controversies in social capital............................................................................ 18 2.2.3 The six-dimension-model............................................................................................ 19 2.3 Internet use and social capital ............................................................................................ 22 2.4 Social capital and sustainable community development.................................................... 26 2.5 Social capital and quality of life......................................................................................... 28 2.6 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 30 Chapter 3: Internet in Peru 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 32 3.2 User profiles ....................................................................................................................... 32 3.2.2. Number of users ......................................................................................................... 32 3.2.3 User profiles ................................................................................................................ 36 3.3 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 42 Chapter 4: Research methodology 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 44 4.2 Research design.................................................................................................................. 45 4.3 Interview Script.................................................................................................................. 49 4.4 Sample................................................................................................................................ 50 4.5 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 51 Chapter 5: A collective case study 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 52 5.2 A case study of cabinas in San Isidro ................................................................................ 53 5.3 A case study of a cabina in Cono Sur................................................................................. 61 5.4 Summary of the analysis .................................................................................................... 67 5.5 A case study of Alternativa’s Escuela de Líderes.............................................................. 70 5.5.1 The districts of Lima’s Cono Norte............................................................................. 70 5.5.2 Alternativa’ Leadership School................................................................................... 71 5.5.3 The Leaders’ Network................................................................................................. 75 5.6 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 80 Master Thesis 2004 3 ESST specialization – Bridging the technological divide Annette Zimmermann University of Maastricht Chapter 6: Conclusion 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 82 6.2 Academic implications....................................................................................................... 82 6.2.1 General implications ................................................................................................... 82 6.2.2 The Internet use – social capital interface................................................................... 83 6.2.3 The social capital – development interface................................................................. 84 6.3 Practical lessons from the collective case studies .............................................................. 86 6.4 Limitations ......................................................................................................................... 87 6.5 Suggestions for further research......................................................................................... 88 Bibliography...................................................................................................................... 90 Appendix I.......................................................................................................................... 93 Appendix II 98 Appendix III 105 Appendix IV 106 Master Thesis 2004 4 ESST specialization – Bridging the technological divide Annette Zimmermann University of Maastricht Table of Figures Figure 2.1: Conceptual framework I “cabinas públicas” 23 Figure 2.2: Conceptual framework II “Alternativa” 24 Figure 3.1: Internet penetration (I) 36 Figure 3.2: Internet penetration (II) 36 Figure 3.3: Main activities among Lima’s inhabitants 40 Figure 3.4: Resistance to E-Commerce in Peru 42 Figure 5.1: Conceptual framework I (revised) 70 Figure 5.2: Map of Lima’s Cono Norte 71 Figure 5.3: Conceptual framework II 79 Figure A: Population distribution in urban and rural areas 93 Figure B: Population distribution in urban and rural areas between 1940 – 2002 94 Figure C: Population structure by age: 1993 – 2002 94 Figure D: Infrastructure 96 Master Thesis 2004 5 ESST specialization – Bridging the technological divide Annette Zimmermann University of Maastricht Table of tables Table 3.1: User profiles according to access location (only Lima) 40 Table 5.1: Participants per district 74 Table 5.2: Educational level in the leadership school 74 Table 5.3: Participants’ income sources/ occupations 75 Table 5.4: Main problems in the organizations of the participants 79 Table 5.5: Propositions to be implemented in the participants’ organizations 79 Master Thesis 2004 6 ESST specialization – Bridging the technological divide Annette Zimmermann University of Maastricht Abstract Information technologies have gained ever more importance and have changed the way people conduct their business or plan their every day life. In the Internet’s nascent days it was expected that soon everyone would benefit from the advantages of this new instrument. Yet, controversies exist society (Putnam 2000). in Peru a three concerning the positive or The study offers three dimensional framework is negative impact of case studies in which the tested. The results reveal Internet usage on certain impact of Internet use on that Internet use, social societal issues. This social capital is examined. capital, overall quality of present study was inspired Moreover, social capital is life, and sustainable by the discussion on the assumed to be positively community development Internet’s influence on correlated with overall are positively correlated. social capital. Social quality of life and These findings have capital has been

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