Discussion about the new social relations created by the sweeping changes in information technology. Who can take advantage of these changes? What should be done in East-Central Europe in order to belong to the mainstream of development?

A new alliance of companies in mass communication, entertainment and telecommunication has emerged, preparing for the big business opportunities of the next century. Developments like gaining political supports for media monopolies apparently run against public interest.

In the mainstream literature, the emergence of the information society is interpreted as a tendency to deconstruct large metropolitan areas, and locate new economic activities in a decentralised way. The author argues that inner cities are far from losing their economic importance, although the new forms of communication and conduct create new forms of centres and peripheries in the world system.

Two main scenarios of the information society are discussed and compared in an extensive study. The authors review how other researchers and philosophers interpret the main features of information technology, their relation to the concept of democracy, and particularly to the actors of democracy, i.e. parties, politicians, and citizens.

Restructuring telecommunication industries according to the interests of the new age of information create unemployment and insecurity of jobs. Labour representation has become much more difficult than before. There are examples of "humanitarian" solutions, even if not very widespread.