Where is Ireland in the global information society?

Abstract

Ireland's current position within the "global information society" depends upon the previous history of industrialisation by invitation. The paper begins by outlining this experience and then suggesting that it has created two major areas of political choice. Education can remain defined by the immediate needs of "industry", or it can become the key component of a national system of innovation. Social policy issues raise the question whether "the information society" in Ireland will be developed according to European Union or US models. The paper concludes by claiming that the social structure of the "information society" is not a pre-ordained development ? the pattern of development can be influenced by conscious political decisions.