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Michael L. Best directs the United Nations University Institute on Computing and Society (UNU-CS) in Macao SAR, China. He is a professor, on leave, with the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology where he directs the Technologies and International Development Lab. Best is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of the widely read journal, Information Technologies and International Development and he leads the Global Computing column for Communications of the ACM. He holds a Ph.D. from MIT and has served as director of Media Lab Asia in India and head of the eDevelopment group at the MIT Media Lab.

Projects & Tools

International Technologies Group

The Information Technologies Group is a global thought leader in the area of ICTs and development. We endeavor to translate cutting edge thinking about how ICTs can improve…


Publications

Sep 30, 2005

The Internet and Democracy: Global Catalyst or Democratic Dud?

In this study we explore the global effect of the Internet on democracy over the period of 1992 to 2002 by observing the relationships between measures related to democracy and…


News

Jan 11, 2011

Peacebuilding in the Information Age: Sifting Hype from Reality

The Berkman Center is pleased to join the ICT4Peace Foundation and Georgia Tech in announcing a new collection of essays, "Peacebuilding in the Information Age: Sifting Hype from…


Courses

Digital Democracy - Fall 2003

Over the past 15 years, digital information and communication networks have spread rapidly across the globe, bringing with them hopes for, and claims of, fundamental change in the…


Events

Jul 19, 2010 @ 9:00 AM

ICT and Civic Engagement in Nigeria: the 2011 Presidential Election and Beyond

This symposium in Abuja, Nigeria will stimulate discussion of, engagement with, and reflection upon the role and uses of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in…

Event
Sep 23, 2009 @ 7:00 PM

Communication and Human Development: The Freedom Connection?

Amartya Sen, Michael Spence, Yochai Benkler, Clotilde Fonseca

Nobel Laureates Amartya Sen and Michael Spence joined Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts Yochai Benkler and Clotilde Fonseca in a public discussion of the role…

Jul 16, 2007 @ 12:00 AM

The Summer Doctoral Programme (SDP)

The Summer Doctoral Programme (SDP) is a joint effort of the Berkman Center and the Oxford Internet Institute, which provides top doctoral students from around the world with the…

Mar 22, 2005 @ 12:30 PM

Internet & Democracy

Michael Best, Berkman Fellow

Berkman Luncheon Series: 3/22/05 - Michael Best on Internet & Democracy