The Past, Present, and Future of Information Policy
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Theoretical analysis and narrative review (graded by design analogy for non-clinical scholarship)
OpenAlex W2150911043 · doi:10.1080/1369118042000208906
What was done
This conceptual paper examined the history, contemporary state, and future trajectory of information policy as an academic and practical domain. The author reviewed foundational historical contributions (notably Marc Porat's work in the 1970s), evaluated major themes in the literature regarding scope, academic discipline ownership, and the concept of national information policies, and proposed theoretical directions for future scholarship.
What was found
The abstract reports no empirical data or quantitative findings. The analysis argues that the definition and purpose of information policy remain confused, critiques attempts by single disciplines to claim ownership of the field, and characterizes comprehensive 'national information policies' as an illusion. The paper proposes framing information policy as an interdisciplinary subset of information society studies informed by political philosophy and futures research.
Why it matters
It clarifies the conceptual boundaries of information policy and provides a theoretical framework to bridge technical information science with normative political philosophy.
Limits
The paper is entirely conceptual and narrative; it contains no empirical data, systematic review methodology, or quantitative measures. Recommendations represent theoretical arguments rather than tested policy outcomes.
Cited by
- supports Marc Porat coined the term 'information economy' on the first page of his 1976 Stanford PhD dissertation.