Karin Skill

The digitalisation of society makes it important to interrogate what possibilities and challenges arise for people to participate as citizens, employees, politicians and administrators. In policies there are expectations for increased information flow, increased efficiency and smart choices in digitalisation and sustainability contexts. But with the observation that at least half a million Swedes are digitally excluded it becomes obvious that digital competence, or digital literacy, is required to reach the global sustainable development goals. We further need to comprehend the sociotechnical context of digital technology and how it is used in everyday situations. In our current research we study how Swedish municipalities and public libraries are organising activities to increase digital participation, and how we can integrate efforts for digital literacy and the implementation of sustainable development through collaboration at different political levels. Our research is thus about social and environmental aspects of the politics for sustainable development and digitalisation, like gender equality, and equity of distribution of competence, resources and risks.