Navigating the Global Digital Divide: Challenges and Policy Approaches

Digital modes of inequality are becoming increasingly visible in the hightech era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Developed countries are predominant beneficiaries of digital technologies, while developing countries continue to languish in the lower ranks of the global digital hierarchy. The global digital divide may be viewed as an inevitable outcome of structural dependencies and institutional deficiencies endured by the Global South. This paper draws on dependency theory and institutional theory to present a comprehensive empirical analysis of the evolution and current persistence of the global digital divide. It accords due attention to several key challenges confronting low-income countries, which hinder efforts to close these disparities. These challenges include digital colonialism, insufficient human capital and research capacity, infrastructural shortcomings, and financial constraints. Finally, the paper draws on empirical case studies to propose viable policy measures aimed at narrowing the global digital divide and fostering technological sovereignty in developing nations.