This article stresses the political dimensions embedded in the imaginaries and myths fuelling digital capitalism. Based on an interdisciplinary literature on technological innovation processes, the paper questions the supposed idea of a dematerialised, automated, and sustainable economy that underlies the ‘digital revolution’. Against this background, we suggest that such imaginaries are “myths” offering a partial view of reality and playing a crucial role in affecting the social, economic, and political dynamics of society. Thus, we claim that on one hand digitalization may be an opportunity for SMEs to innovate products and processes in a more socially and environmentally sustainable way, while on the other it is a challenge since it reproduces and reinforces asymmetries. What is necessary, then, is to question the tout court separateness between virtual and material, being aware of the risks related to the infrastructuralisation of platforms and in embracing a view that allow to use digital technologies from the handle and not from the blade.

Beyond the Myths of Digitalization: Labor, Space and Ecology in the Digital Age

Giorgio Pirina
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
2023-01-01

Abstract

This article stresses the political dimensions embedded in the imaginaries and myths fuelling digital capitalism. Based on an interdisciplinary literature on technological innovation processes, the paper questions the supposed idea of a dematerialised, automated, and sustainable economy that underlies the ‘digital revolution’. Against this background, we suggest that such imaginaries are “myths” offering a partial view of reality and playing a crucial role in affecting the social, economic, and political dynamics of society. Thus, we claim that on one hand digitalization may be an opportunity for SMEs to innovate products and processes in a more socially and environmentally sustainable way, while on the other it is a challenge since it reproduces and reinforces asymmetries. What is necessary, then, is to question the tout court separateness between virtual and material, being aware of the risks related to the infrastructuralisation of platforms and in embracing a view that allow to use digital technologies from the handle and not from the blade.
2023
SMEs in the Digital Era Opportunities and Challenges of the Digital Single Market
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
BEYOND THE MYTHS OF DIGITALIZATION2022_Marrone_Peterlongo_Pirina.pdf

non disponibili

Tipologia: Versione dell'editore
Licenza: Accesso chiuso-personale
Dimensione 284.52 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
284.52 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in ARCA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/5020242
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 0
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact