Digitalization policy and digital exclusion

Abstract: As being digital increasingly becomes a requirement for functioning in society, those who are not as digital increasingly become excluded. This study aims to problematize the Swedish policies surrounding digitalization, and especially those in some way related to digital exclusion. The paper uses a combination of Bacchi’s What’s represented as the problem? methodology and theories on the neoliberal rationality in order to ask questions about the problematizations in Swedish digitalization policy, the underlying logics behind them and their effects on digital exclusion. The conclusion is drawn that Swedish digitalization policy possesses elements that affect digital exclusion by, among other things, limiting scope of what can be done about it. Further, the analysis shows that patterns of neoliberal rationality is present throughout much of the digitalization policy and the conclusion is drawn that this has impact on digital exclusion.