Professor Robin Mansell

Professor Robin Mansell

Professor Emerita of New Media and the Internet

Department of Media and Communications

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Languages
English
Key Expertise
Communications Regulation, Platform Governance, Socio-technical Change

About me

Robin Mansell PhD (SFU Canada 1984), FAcSS, FBA, is Professor Emerita in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is currently Scientific Director, Observatory on Information and Democracy, Forum on Information & Democracy, Paris.

Her research and teaching focus on media and communications regulation and policy, internet governance, privacy and surveillance, digital platforms, socio-technical features of data and information systems, and the social, political and economic impacts of innovation in digital networks and applications. Her current research addresses the political economy of ‘platformisation’ and ‘datafication’ and its consequences for society in diverse contexts around the world.

She has training in several social science disciplines including psychology, social psychology, politics and economics and is a strong advocate of interdisciplinary research when it builds on the strengths of disciplinary inquiry.

Robin was elected British Academy Fellow, 2022, Academia Europaea member 2020 and Fellow, UK Academy of Social Sciences 2019. Robin received the 2021 Outstanding Alumni Award for Academic Achievement from Simon Fraser University, was awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa by the University of Fribourg in 2020 and was recipient of the C. Edwin Baker Award for the Advancement of Scholarship on Media, Markets and Democracy 2020 (ICA Communication Law & Policy and Philosophy, Theory and Critique Divisions).

View CV (PDF)

Expertise Details

Media and Communications Regulation and Policy; Internet Governance; Privacy and Surveillance; Digital Platforms; Data and Information; Social; Political and Economic Impacts of Innovation and Digital Technology Applications

Publications

Books

  • Mansell, R. and Steinmueller, W. E, (2020) Advanced introduction to platform economics. Elgar Advanced Introductions, series, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, Cheltenham, UK.
  • Mansell, R. and Ang, P. H. (eds) (2015) The International Encyclopedia of Digital Communication and Society: 3 Volume Set, Wiley-Blackwell, 1,296 pages.

  • Mansell, R. (2012) Imagining the Internet: Communication, Innovation and GovernanceOxford University Press, pp. 320 pages.

  • Mansell, R. and Raboy, M. (eds) (2011) Handbook of Global Media and Communications Policy, Wiley-Blackwell, 579 pages.

  • Mansell, R. (ed) (2009) The Information Society (Critical Studies in Sociology), 4 Vols. Routledge.

  • Mansell, R, Avgerou, C., Quah, D., and Silverstone, R. (eds) (2007) The Oxford Handbook of Information and Communication TechnologiesOxford University Press, 620 pages, pbk 2009.

  • Mansell, R. and Collins, B. S. (eds) (2005) Trust and Crime in Information Societies, Edward Elgar Publishers, 459 pages, pbk. 2007.

  • Mansell, R., Samarajiva, R., and Mahan, A. (eds) (2002) Networking Knowledge for Information Societies: Institutions and Intervention, Delft: DUP Science, Delft University Press, 405 pages.

  • Mansell, R. (ed) (2002) Inside the Communication Revolution - New Patterns of Social and Technical Interaction, Oxford University Press, 309 pages, trans. La revolución de lacomunicación: Modelos de interacción social y técnica, Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2003.

  • Mansell, R. and Steinmueller, W. E. (2000) Mobilizing the Information Society: Strategies for Growth and OpportunityOxford University Press, 516 pages, pbk 2002, trans. Macedonian, TRI Publishing Centre, 2009.

  • Mansell, R. and Credé, A. (1998) Knowledge Societies … In a Nutshell: Information Technology for Sustainable Development. Ottawa: International Development Research Centre (IDRC), September, trans. Spanish and French.

  • Mansell, R. and U. Wehn (eds) (1998) Knowledge Societies: Information Technology for Sustainable Development. Published for the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Oxford University Press, 323 pages, trans. Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, 1999.

  • Mansell, R. and Silverstone, R. (eds) (1996) Communication by Design: The Politics of Information and Communication Technologies. Oxford University Press, 278 pages.  

  • Mansell, R., Davies, A., and Hulsink, W. (1995) The New Telecommunications in the Netherlands: Strategic Developments in Technologies and MarketsRathenau Institute (formerly Netherlands Office of Technology Assessment), 134 pages.
  • Hawkins, R, Mansell, R. and Skea, J. (eds) (1995) Standards Innovation and Competitiveness: The Politics and Economics of Standards in Natural and Technical Environments. Edward Elgar Publishers, 269 pages.

  • Mansell, R. (ed) (1994) The Management of Information and Communication Technologies: Emerging Patterns of Control, ASLIB (Association of Library and Information Systems), 326 pages.

  • Mansell, R. (1993) The New Telecommunications: A Political Economy of Network Evolution.S age, 260 pages, trans. Le telecomunicazioni che cambiano: Innovazione technolgica edeconomicadelle reti. Utet Libreria, 1996.

  • Mansell, R. and Garnham, N. (1991) Universal Service and Rate Restructuring in Telecommunications, and French trans., OECD/ICCP Report No. 23, Paris, 193 pages.

  • Mansell, R. (1988) New Telecommunication Services: Videotex Development Strategiesand French trans., OECD/1CCP Report No. 16, Paris, 62 pages.

  • Mansell, R. (1987) Telecommunication Network-based Services: Policy Implicationsand French trans., OECD/1CCP Report No. 18: Paris, 277 pages.

  • Melody, W. H. and Mansell, R (1986) Information and Communication Technologies: Social Science Research and Training Vol. I: An Overview of Research, Vol II: National Directory, London: Economic and Social Research Council, 390 pages.

 
Other publications

View a comprehensive list of Professor Mansell's publications.

Research

LSE projects

  • Interference on the line? The challenge of rights, freedoms and broadband, PI in collaboration with Dr. Monica Horton, Visiting Research Fellow, Submitted: ESRC open call.
  • Renewing the Knowledge Societies Vision for Peace and Sustainable Development, With G. Tremblay, Professor, University of Quebec at Montreal, UNESCO, Report for the WSIS+10 Conference, Paris, Feb 2013.  Funder: UNESCO
  • Not Just Talk: Practice, Power, Knowledge and Information and Communication Technologies (TIPPI) With Dr. Evangelia Berdou, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex. Funder: Institute of Development Studies (2012-14).
  • International Knowledge Management - Emergent (IKM-E) Steering Committee Member. Funder: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and administered by the European Association for Development Training and Research Institutes (EADI), 2007-2012  see http://wiki.ikmemergent.net/index.php/Main_Page
  • Socio-Economic Impact Assessment for Research Projects (SEQUOIA). Led by Dr Paolo Dini, LSE Department of Media and Communications, Senior Research Associate, Funder: European Commission 2010-2012, See http://www.sequoiaproject.eu/
  • British Telecom  Expert Witness evidence in British Telecommunications plc ("BT") and TalkTalk Telecom Group Limited v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, 1 July 2010 - January 2011
  • Advancing knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship and innovation for growth and social well-being in Europe (AEGIS)with E. Edward Steinmueller, SPRU, University of Sussex, Mansell named expert with SPRU 2008-11, see http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/projects/349_en.html
  • Countering Terrorism in Public Places Research Programme Director, IDEAS Factory Sand-Pit, ESRC, AHRC, EPSRC, 2006, for funded projects see http://www.esrc.ac.uk/about-esrc/what-we-do/our-research/terrorism.aspx
  • Open Philosophies for Associative Autopoietic Digital Ecosystems (OPAALS) Led by Dr. Paolo Dini, Department of Media and Communications, Senior Research Associate, LSE was Lead Partner. Funder: European Commission 2007-10, see http://www.opaals.eu/
  • Digital Business Ecosystems (DBE) Led by Dr Paolo Dini, LSE Department of Media and Communications, Senior Research Associate, LSE was Lead Partner. Funder: European Commission, Integrated Project 2003-6.
  • ICTs for Development - Universal Service and Telecommunications Led by Mansell with Professor William H Melody and Claire Milne, Consultant. Funder: International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, Jan-Mar 2006.
  • Cyber Trust and Crime Prevention Foresight Project Mansell as leader of all social science contributions to project. Funder: Office of Science and Technology (OST), Foresight (2003-4), see http://www.bis.gov.uk/foresight/our-work/projects/published-projects/cyber-trust
  • Growth-Nodes in Knowledge-based Europe (G-NIKE) Lead Institute: IN3 University of Catalonia, Barcelona. Funder: European Commission 2002-3.
  • E-Commerce with Developing Countries Lead Institute: LSE with Institute of Development Studies, Sussex. Funder: UK Department for International Development 2001-3, see http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/3710/1/The_reality_of_e-commerce_with_developing_countries.pdf
  • Socio-economic Trends Assessment for the Digital Revolution (STAR) Lead Institute: Databank Consulting, Milan, with SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: European Commission, 5th Framework, Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme, Key Action II Electronic Commerce 2000-3.
  • The Economic Importance of Electronic Networks Funder: Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, Cabinet Office, 2002, see http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/3867/1/The_Economic_Importance_of_Electronic_Networks.pdf

 

Pre-LSE projects (1988-2000 at SPRU, University of Sussex)

  • Forecasts and Assessment of Advanced Communication Technologies and Services and Recommendations (FAIR) Lead Institute: Databank Consulting, Milan, with SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: European Commission, DGXIII 4th Framework Advanced Communication Technologies and Services (ACTS) Programme, 1995-8.
  • Assessment of Telematics Programme (ASSENT) Lead Institute: SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: European Commission, DGXIII, 4th Framework Telematics Programme, 1996-9.
  • Prospectus for GAIT - Global Access to Information Technologies Lead Institute: SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, 1999. See http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/26661/1/GAIT_(LSERO).pdf
  • Knowledge Societies: Information Technology for Sustainable Development Lead Institute: SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: UNCTAD on behalf of United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development, 1996-7, see http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/research/ink/knowledgesocieties
  • Net Compatible:  Virtual Communities, Intelligent Agents and Trust Service Provision for Electronic Commerce Lead Institute: SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: NCR Financial Services Knowledge Laboratory, London, 1998, see http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/24979/
  • The New Telecommunications in the Netherlands Lead Institute: SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: Rathenau Institute, (formerly Netherlands Office of Technology Assessment), 1995.
  • Intellectual Property Rights: The Development of Information Infrastructures for the Information Society Lead Institute: MERIT, Maastricht and SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: European Parliament, Scientific and Technological Options Assessment (STOA) Programme, 1995.
  • Employment and Telecommunications Lead Institute: SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: International Labour Office, Principal Contractor, Geneva, 1995.
  • Media and Advanced Communication Services Lead Institute: Technology Investment Partners, Paris with SPRU Sussex Mansell and Silverstone as coordinators of academic research. Funder: Commission of the European Communities, Socio-Economic and Technical Impact Assessment & Forecasts, RACE II, 1993.
  • Earth Observation Data Policy for Europe Lead Institute: Logica Space and Communications Ltd and SPRU University of Sussex. Funder: Commission of the European Communities, DG-XII, 1992.

Teaching and supervision

Postgraduate teaching

Professor Mansell has taught extensively in her various fields of expertise. Presently, she convenes and teaches on the graduate-level course Disruptive Digital Worlds: Competing Economic and Political Economy Explanations and was inaugural convenor of Information, Communication and Knowledge Systems. She has also contributed lectures to team-taught graduate-level Media and Communications courses relating to theories and concepts (MC408/MC418) and research methodologies (MC4M1/MC4M2).

 

Doctoral supervision

Professor Mansell has taught extensively in her various fields of expertise. She convened and taught the popular graduate-level courses Disruptive Digital Worlds: Competing Economic and Political Economy Explanations and Information, Communication and Knowledge Systems. She continues to contribute to team-taught graduate-level Media and Communications courses relating to theories and concepts (MC408/MC418) and research methodologies (MC4M1/MC4M2).