Inthisarticle,weexamineanin-depthcaseoftheintroductionof geographical information systems (GIS) in the Indian forestry sector and associated social transformations. Our study is informed by Giddens’s recent theoretical developments on globalizing ine uences at the institutional level and their interconnectedness to new trust systems and self-identity at the individual level. We examine how some elements of our case analysis are illuminated by Giddens’s theoretical concepts, and also highlight some potential areas for further theoretical development. In particular, our case suggests that there are ongoing processes of stability as well as ree exivity,andwealsodeveloptheconceptoftrustsystemstosupport interactions with new groups of people. Finally, our analysis notes some limitations of Giddens’s ideas, especially the somewhat homogeneous form of his theory in suggesting the nature of social transformations in current times. Instead, the case emphasizes the need toexaminemoreclosely culturalandothersocioculturalcharacteristicsinparticularcontexts,andhowthey playoutwith global ineuences.
['Michael Barrett', 'Sundeep Sahay', 'Geoff Walsham']
Information Technology and Social Transformation: GIS for Forestry Management in India