THE COGNITIVE GAP: Development challenges and digital literacy in transition economies

In the era of hyperconnectivity, the real inequality no longer lies solely in the lack of access to devices, but in a deeper and more silent abyss: the cognitive gap. This book challenges the prevailing technological determinism and postulates that the mere provision of digital infrastructure, without a critical appropriation strategy, not only fails to generate development, but also risks amplifying existing social exclusions.Through a rigorous analysis set in the context of transition economies, the book deconstructs the "artifactual" and "instrumental" approaches that have limited public policies in the region. It proposes, instead, a new paradigm focused on "educating demand": transforming the citizen from a passive consumer of information to an active producer of knowledge, capable of ethically navigating the era of post-truth and algorithms.From the modernization of the state to the university classroom, The Cognitive Divide offers a comprehensive roadmap for technology to stop being an end in itself and become a true engine of social mobility, cultural identity and empowered citizenship.