Reconsidering government digital strategies within the context of digital inequalities: the case of the UK Digital Strategy

The paper begins by establishing the prevalent discourse surrounding technology's transformative potential in the public sector, including increased productivity, efficiency, service delivery, and accountability. However, it highlights the paradoxical exacerbation of existing inequalities, particularly for vulnerable groups, due to the accelerated pace of digitalization. This amplification of disparities is linked to neoliberal approaches that prioritize customer-centric visions, requiring consumers with purchasing power and the ability to make informed choices. This contrasts with the social contract, where the state supports citizens' lives, liberties, and freedoms in exchange for adherence to the law. The authors posit that this perspective necessitates a re-evaluation of policy frameworks, especially considering the interconnectedness of societal well-being, digital access, and participation. The study focuses on critically analyzing the 2022 UK Digital Strategy using critical discourse analysis (CDA), chosen for its historical context and the continuing concern of digital exclusion despite previous strategies aiming for inclusivity. The study aims to explore whether and to what extent the official policy discourse considers digital inequalities.

The literature review examines the intersection of digitalization and policy-making. While much research focuses on the positive impacts of digitalization on productivity, transparency, and service delivery, the authors highlight studies revealing negative unintended consequences. These include power imbalances inscribed within technology, worsening health outcomes due to technological rigidity, and the devoicing of marginalized groups. The review emphasizes the duality of technology as both a product of human action and a tool used to further the interests of powerful actors. The dominant discourse on digital governance is criticized for adopting business sector strategies, often implicitly prioritizing industry concerns over citizen well-being. The shift of power from the state to the market, fueled by digitalization, is linked to the strengthening of the neoliberal agenda, prioritizing market-serving behaviors over citizen benefits. The review defines digital inequalities comprehensively, encompassing financial constraints, infrastructural barriers, skill gaps, and attitudinal factors, acknowledging its deepening alongside accelerating digitalization. The UK's historical influence by neoliberalism, austerity measures, and Brexit is highlighted as shaping the context for the 2022 UK Digital Strategy.

The study employs a social constructionist perspective, viewing language as actively shaping social reality. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is used to analyze the 2022 UK Digital Strategy, unpacking linguistic choices to reveal underlying ideologies and power dynamics. The CDA framework considers how language legitimates power and subjugates groups by promoting hegemonic truths. The analysis follows four steps: description (micro-level analysis of grammar, lexicon, and literary devices); interpretation (identifying meanings and implications); explanation (connecting linguistic elements to broader socio-political contexts); and evaluation (assessing the discourse's social significance and impact). Investigator triangulation, involving two external experts in CDA, was used to validate findings. The analysis focused on identifying discursive patterns, power structures, and ideological underpinnings within the text.

The analysis reveals four main themes within the UK Digital Strategy: 1) **Prioritization and Legitimization of the Interests of the Market:** The strategy consistently prioritizes the private sector, framing capital investment as essential for digital growth and portraying business interests as synonymous with national interests. Metaphors like "deep pools of capital" and "excellent funding ecosystem" are used to legitimize this focus. 2) **The Prioritization and Hegemony of Productivity:** The strategy emphasizes productivity and innovation as central goals, justifying initiatives based on their contribution to economic growth. The authors highlight how productivity is presented as a common-sense goal and a measure of national success. 3) **Ideological Hegemony of Neoliberal Positivism:** The document prioritizes STEM-related knowledge and its commercialization, presenting STEM as inherently valuable and essential for economic prosperity. This reinforces the ideological hegemony of neoliberalism, neglecting other areas of knowledge and societal needs. 4) **Weaponization of Equality and Inclusion to Promote Digitalization:** The strategy uses inclusive language to justify its focus on market interests, portraying investment in businesses as promoting inclusivity and social good. However, this "inclusion" is largely conditional and primarily focused on creating a productive workforce for the digital economy. The analysis shows how marginalized groups are positioned as needing skills to better participate in the market rather than addressing systemic inequalities.

The findings reveal that the 2022 UK Digital Strategy, despite its stated commitment to inclusivity, is fundamentally shaped by neoliberal ideology, prioritizing market interests over the well-being of citizens. The strategy's customer-centric approach neglects the structural barriers faced by digitally excluded individuals. The emphasis on productivity and STEM-related fields reinforces an individualistic approach, neglecting the complex social factors contributing to digital inequalities. The use of inclusive language to justify market-driven policies demonstrates how rhetoric can mask underlying power imbalances. The analysis challenges the often uncontested claims about the benefits of digital transformation, suggesting that such initiatives can serve to consolidate capital and power while deepening existing inequalities.

This study demonstrates how the 2022 UK Digital Strategy uses language to reinforce neoliberal values while ostensibly promoting inclusivity. The analysis highlights the need for a more critical approach to government digital strategies, considering the complex interplay between technology, market forces, and social justice. Future research could examine the implementation of the strategy across different public sector departments and conduct longitudinal studies to assess its long-term impact on citizens. Comparing this strategy with those of other governments, or future strategies from a different UK government, will reveal the role of ideology and power dynamics in shaping digital policy.

This study focuses solely on the 2022 UK Digital Strategy, limiting its generalizability. The analysis is confined to a single document and does not explore the lived experiences of digitally excluded individuals. Future research should address these limitations by examining other policy documents, implementation processes, and incorporating qualitative data on the impact of the strategy on the population.