Many of the social issues of today have to do with digitization and, not least, the ongoing transformation of
the media and communication culture. We are now at a point that may be described as ‘the end of the digital beginning’. Following a period of optimism about the potentialities offered by the internet – especially
the hopes that it would increase citizen engagement and participation – problems have surfaced.
Around the world, citizens are struggling to bring about an internet that is open, free and safe –
that is, to abolish surveillance, control and censorship. In some instances, politicians and civil society
organizations are calling for government measures to help them achieve these goals. In other countries,
authoritarian regimes are using the internet and social media to justify repression, including measures to
limit freedom of expression. Ideology, the powers of state and private interests combine to silence free
speech. Clearly, internet can have quite different impacts on the social order.
From the perspective of the Global North, many of the problems arise out of conflicts between the
logic of the market and respect for the equal value of human beings, a core democratic value. Call for new
policies to resolve these problems are being heard.
Media and information literacy (MIL) is often emphasized in the face of technological breakthroughs,
when policy and law-makers find themselves unable to tackle emerging problems. Therefore, MIL should
be understood as part of a whole that includes legislation and reforms in media, education and other fields
of relevance – as part of a democracy strategy. That is, a long-term benefit, not a short-term solution. This
is a process that involves many different stakeholders in society, and combining extensive collaboration
with proactive political leadership is a challenge. It can be said to be the starting point for this publication.
The book consists of three parts. In the first part, a number of articles of a more general nature
discuss media and information literacy (MIL) as well as courses of development on national, regional and
global levels. The focus in the second part is on Sweden, the host the UNESCO Global MIL Week Feature
Conference in 2019. The articles in this part present current research findings, policy decisions and political
initiatives and some examples of ‘best practices’ in various areas. The third part presents a new approach
to MIL in a context of social change and Agenda 2030.
One issue I have wrestled with for many years is the dominance of ‘the Western world’. Media, and
concepts connected to MIL, are often seen with eyes that have been conditioned by analytical categories
developed predominantly within the Anglo-American sphere. These categories have then been applied
to other, very different social, cultural, economic and political contexts. Such a hegemonic perception
has become prevalent all over the world. So, researchers, experts and policy makers need to transcend
cultural, political, ethnic and religious boundaries and to accommodate regional variations, to a much
greater extent than is done today. This is an enormous challenge.
Despite this reservation it is my hope that the articles presented here will contribute to knowledge
development in the area as well as to discussions and reflections on the role of MIL in contemporary
societies. It is also my hope that the examples from research, politics and practices in Sweden will
stimulate initiatives and activities in other countries, and particularly exchanges of knowledge and
experience between many countries all over the world.
Finally, I am deeply indebted to all the contributors from far and near who have made this publication possible. Thanks for good work and engagement. I also wish to express my great appreciation for the
support provided by Region Västra Götaland and the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO.
