The information landscape: political democracy versus epistemic games with specific reference to South African communities

Abstract

The South African government and professions are taking stock of the transformation of the last decade. Municipalities still face serious problems such as urban population growth, poverty, housing shortages, environmental and health problems. The professions are fighting battles of curriculum and practice reforms and experience Cinderella treatment from government. This article focuses on the information landscape in the public sector of South Africa from political democracy and epistemic games perspectives. The links between information and politics, education, the economy and development as epistemic games are investigated. The practical reality of the South African information landscape of public and school libraries are examined against the background of political democracy. This landscape is constantly changing and very uncertain due to the transformation of local government. The author argues for active on-going debate between the two opposing groups of democracy (elected government officials and the electorate) and epistemic games (academics, researchers and philosophers) to find joint, informed solutions to critical issues.