Causes and Symptoms of Socio-Cultural Polarization : Role of Information and Communication Technologies

This book explores cultural polarization resultant decline in social cohesion in society and how information and communication technologies exacerbate the cultural polarization through phenomenon such as "echo chambers" of information that damage the quality of online discourse. This book examines the nature of the information that is shared. Further this book identifies how the quality of online discourse and polarization induced through it leads to offline harm and negative outcomes in our society.

This book discusses how wide-ranging information exchange on digital media can lead to two scenarios, namely, the formation of the public sphere or the formation of echo chambers. While the public sphere, which promotes greater diversity, is a well-researched domain, substantially less research has been conducted on echo chambers in relation to sociocultural activities, products or services. This book states that polarization induced by the formation and evolution of echo chambers in sociocultural realm such as around epidemic outbreaks, vaccination, healthcare, education, and climate change is an emerging avenue of research due to its enormous impact in the shaping of our society. Therefore, this book argues that understanding the characteristics of sociocultural products related controversies is critical and valuable in developing interventions to reduce unhealthy societal and organizational polarisations.

The development of systematic knowledge is required to understand and address such a large scale and complex societal challenge so as to facilitate a deeper understanding and offer solutions to the growing issue of polarization in sociocultural context driven primarily through echo chambers. This book examines how technology enabled social media usage increases, and the complex structural outcomes such as echo chambers are likely to have an increasingly important role in shaping public opinion.

This book appeals to readerswith interest in developing a deeper and broader understanding of issues and initiatives related to the polarization of opinions on cultural products. These include readers and scholars from various disciplines, along with engaged organizational leaders, activists, policy makers, and common citizens.

Israr Qureshi is a Professor at Research School of Management, Australian National University. He is engaged in projects that investigate various aspects of social value creation through sustainable development, social intermediation, social entrepreneurship, and ICT. He is also engaged in various initiatives to address climate change. He has published in Academy of Management Learning and Education, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Organization Behavior, MIS Quarterly, Organization Studies, Research in the Sociology of Organizations among others. Israr has chaired panels and delivered keynote speeches on emerging business models to address social and environmental issues.

Babita Bhatt is a Lecturer at Research School of Management, Australian National University. She earned her PhD from Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. Her research interest lies at the intersection of community, civil society and organizations. She applies social capital theory and capability approach to understand how social impact is achieved by organizations engaged in poor communities. Her work has been published in Organization Studies and Journal of Business Ethics, and has received funding from IDRC, Canada and RGC, Hong Kong. Her work on social cohesion and social entrepreneurship has been recognized with a grand challenge grant of about A $3 million.

Samrat Gupta is an Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. He received his doctoral degree from Indian Institute of Management Lucknow. His broad research interests are in the area of Information Systems and Management with a focus on complex networks, cultural products, soft computing and online platforms. His work has been published in Information Sciences, Decision Support Systems, IT and People, Data & Knowledge Engineering, Journal of Decision Systems, and Journal of Prediction Markets. One of his projects on studying network theoretic structures around cultural products has received funding from MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development, India) under a competitive granting scheme named SPARC. His research has received several awards from reputed organizations around the world such as IDRBT, Hyderabad, IIM Bangalore and Complex Engineering Systems Institute, University of Chile.

Amit Anand Tiwari is an Assistant Professor at IIM Rohtak. He holds a doctoral degree in the area of Marketing Management from Indian Institute of Management Lucknow. His research focuses on contemporary issues in Creative Industries, Brand Coolness and Cultural Products. His research interests span over various areas like Service-Dominant Logic, Brand Coolness, and Complex Network Brand Implications. His work has been published in Journal of Retailing & Consumer Services, Marketing Intelligence & Planning, and Journal of Decision Systems. He also writes case studies concerning various dimensions of Marketing and Entrepreneurship. His case has been published in Ivey publishing. His project on cultural products and echo chambers has received funding from MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development, India) under the prestigious granting initiative SPARC (Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration).