Summary Information and communication technology (ICT) has been recognized as an important catalyst for national progress and social transformation, an insight that motivated early 20 th century telecom regulations ensuring universal access for all citizens. More recently, we have witnessed how governments, nongovernmental organizations, and organic social movements can use ICT to create increased participation, transparency, and accountability for previously voiceless people in the developing nations of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. But, as Rob Kling (1996) reminded us, ICT’s consequences are not universally positive: ICT can contribute to unemployment and increased economic disparity, as well as labor and financial market instability and a host of other social problems. The time has come to assess the evidence about ICT’s social consequences and to develop better theories about the precise nature of the role of ICT in complex social problems and the ecosystems that perpetuate the problems. Toward this aim, we invite papers that examine the role of ICT in complex social problems. This role may be • Enabling—augmenting, catalyzing, or supporting solutions for complex social problems, or • Constraining—worsening existing social problems, creating new problems, or diverting attention and resources from needed social change.
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