All this introspection is happening just as the winds of change, of crisis even, are much more pronounced and affect not only Europe but also the whole world. It has often been said that there are two fundamental elements that explain this: globalisation and technological change. In other words we are going from a fragmented industrial society to a global information society.

For Andorra, the key is to know how to profit from the opportunities that the arrival of the information age brings. To allow these opportunities to pass unheeded and not to profit from them would be a grave error and could mean the country being exposed only to the negative elements of change, which is precisely what it is hoped to avoid. On the contrary, what is necessary is to build the future with the tools that technological change affords us.
 
 

2. From the industrial society to the information society

Why do we talk about the information society, which some —only scratching the surface— call the digital society and which would probably better be called the knowledge society? Is it sure that we are witnessing the start of a radical process of transformation that supposes a complete change for society?

The reply to these questions is positive. This can be seen from a cursory examination of current fact and an analysis of the consequences that affect every aspect of our daily lives.

The huge leaps in technological progress in the field of microelectronics, in fibre optics and satellite systems —to mention but a few— have an appreciable economic effect in the practical disappearance of unit costs in all the elements necessary in the processing, storing and distribution of information. Today we have the capability, at minimal cost, to process incredible quantities of information, to store it in a tiny space and to send it instantly to any point on the globe or even into space. The barriers of volume, time and distance to the availability of information have gone.

The possibility of using digital code to transmit whatsoever type of information, whether one is talking of numbers, sound, text or pictures makes for a completely new environment. Since we know how to digitise —that is to say convert into numbers— any information, be it written, spoken or visual, we have already arrived at the point where separate dedicated distribution systems for each are unnecessary. Soon, there won’t be telephones or televisions or computers but an apparatus that does a bit of everything... and telephone conversations will not arrive by a different cable to that used for televised images.

This unification of coding supposes a convergence in all the different existing technologies – printing, photography and electronics – and implies the disappearance of the barriers which have separated —and at present still do— such apparently diverse industries as publishing, film production, telecommunications, television broadcasting and computing. This will cause a startling —and possibly dangerous— concentration of businesses and the appearance of new products and services.

This double phenomenon of cost reduction and concentration coincides with a political era of liberalization that supposes the disappearance of public monopolies and the liberty for the private sector to compete. Furthermore, in the case of Europe, this coincides with the disappearance of frontiers and the possibility that business can extend its area of operations to the whole of the Union at least.

The intertwining of all these phenomena makes for a situation where it is easy to understand the revolutionary consequences for the information market. Many of the positioning moves and the turf battles that we are seeing currently are just a foretaste of the total reorganisation of the sector.

We are entering a world in which information will be overabundant and cheap (our principal problem will not be the lack of information but an excess of information – a new way of being uninformed). We are entering a world in which information, or knowledge, will substitute other current elements in our lives. Instead of moving people we will move information; instead of consuming materials or energy, businesses will more and more replace work with technology —which is no more than a type of knowledge— which we will learn without the necessity of someone being there to teach us.

This capacity for knowledge to allow us to save energy, or materials, or labor, will prove extraordinarily positive in dealing with the difficulties that we have at present in maintaining balance in the environment, but at the same time it can cause serious problems —as it is now— by reducing the amount of work necessary for the correct functioning of the economy. The latter complication is certain if we do not recognize that the modern economy demands less work and more technology, that is to say less work of one kind and more work of another kind, since technology needs people, but trained differently.

It will be a world where people could become useless or marginalised, not because they are less valid, but because they do not have the necessary skills and training that the new environment demands.

It will be a world where, for some, the capacity to access the information highway, as much as to receive information from it as to influence the content which circulates around it, will become central to their quality of life and for others will become a source of power. A world, which will create a new group of marginalised people: those who are geographically challenged, who have less economic resources or who do not have the cultural capacity to access information and to transform it into useful skills. Such marginalisation will not only affect certain individuals or groups of people, but whole peoples; those who fail to keep up and those who are not sufficiently prepared to enjoy and utilize all this new non-material wealth.

In the face of this challenge, people and government must prepare. Together they must ensure that the citizen of the future has the adequate technical and cultural skills (a problem of education); that the business environment shall encourage initiatives directed at engaging in the new disciplines (the problem of the business sector); that one has all the necessary technological means that allow access (the problem of infrastructures); and lastly that the public authorities make sure that they create an administrative (public services) and judicial (legislation) environment which assists not hinders the transition.
 
 

3. A White Paper for the challenge ahead

In the face of these perspectives, the Andorran Government has taken the initiative in promoting the publication of this White Paper.

But, this is not the Government’s book. Neither is it a book produced by a group of experts. There have indeed been a number of people from inside and outside the country who, by virtue of their specific professional knowledge and in responding to the request of the Government, have made the publication possible. But they are not the real authors of the White Paper. This White Paper is, above all, the result of the profound reflections of a great number of ordinary citizens, representing all walks of Andorran society, who during six months have been concerned to debate the future orientation of their country.

It is a book that comes from society, addressed to society in general. The White Paper makes recommendations directed at the Government, but also proposes actions that are not within the province of government to put into effect and which are more the responsibility of other institutions and entities in the country, both in the public and private sectors. This White Paper addresses them also.

But most of all, the White Paper is directed at Andorran society in general in order to make them aware of the task ahead, of the possible perils and of the possibilities that the new age offers. Without such awareness, without an adequate response from society, the efforts of this or that institution serve no purpose.

The White Paper, we have already said, is the fruit of an analysis of a current problem. An analysis that is open and frank and does not shy away from some delicate subjects. The White Paper includes the principal themes discussed in the working sessions.

The analysis has led to a vision of the future of Andorra in the context of the new technologies. The White Paper proposes a series of actions. These proposals form the fundamental nucleus of this book – the operative template. For the sake of clarity and to make it easier to follow it has been classified into various different Programmes, each with their suggested Actions.
 
 

4. Strategic orientations

Before entering into the detail of the programmes and the actions, some of the grand strategic premises —that is to say, the fundamentals of this vision of the future— that support them must be explained in a very general way.

The information age makes frontiers disappear and brings communities together. Andorra has to combine the particularities and advantages of a small and different country with a rapprochement towards the international community.

Andorra must obtain the maximum profit possible from its extraordinary natural patrimony. It must protect it and offer it to people from other countries for non-destructive use.

Andorra has to combine its natural environment with strongly creative economic activities, which can be appreciated for their quality rather than merely for their price.

Being a citizen of Andorra has to be synonymous with being well trained, open to the world and having a solid intellectual preparation for the needs of modern technology.

Living in Andorra has to allow for compatibility between the peace and tranquillity of the environment and the feeling of being perfectly connected with the power centres and economic activity of the whole of Europe.

A visit to Andorra has to offer the possibility of enjoying activities associated with the natural environment at the same time as finding that business and, above all, services can offer the very highest quality.

The challenge of preparing ourselves for the new society lies in education and it is here that we have to make the greatest efforts. These efforts must also continue on throughout adulthood, not only so as to assist those people who did not have the opportunities when they were younger but also to make sure that they are always up to date throughout their lives.

Only in an environment that encourages innovative personal initiative can private investment develop and achieve the new model that this book defines and thus it is the responsibility of the public sector to ensure that we have the legal and cultural environment that permits this.

The pace at which real demand grows must not be allowed to condition the quality and quantity of infrastructures and collective policy should be directed so that the supply of communications infrastructures leads the way in creating demand, thereby encouraging its consolidation.

Public administration has to adopt the role of pioneer in the use of the new media and the provision of new services, thus improving services for the citizen and for commerce, and has to encourage the introduction of all these novelties as much in the commercial sector as in our personal lives.

Finally, it is vital that there is urgent action in the legislative field concerning the communications sector and that the Government has to put in practice a programme of promotion and all-round on-going support for all the actions proposed.
 
 

5. Dangers

The White Paper proposes a series of actions. The public institutions must decide which of these to put into effect. Private institutions must do the same.

It is worth now drawing attention to certain dangers, in order to avoid that this White Paper remains just that, a White Paper. A lot of goodwill, effort and enthusiasm, already shown by the group, is still necessary so that instead of this book gathering dust on a library shelf it becomes an operative template.

This could still happen if the Book fails to stimulate important sectors in the Andorran community into making these proposals a common goal; this requires a great effort to publicise the goals and to convince them of their worth.

This could also happen if the public sector initiatives were not to have the necessary single-mindedness and continuity. The Government must adopt measures that show, in terms of political will and resources, a long-term perspective and it is important that all public administrations act jointly and in a concerted manner.

The worst danger would be that we focus such actions with excessive technological optimism, as if technology of itself could solve all the problems without the necessary changes in mentality and capacity for personal or collective initiative. Technology is there to be used, to be researched, but one must never forget that it is just a tool. Technology holds the answers to many problems, but we must be absolutely sure that we know what the problems are, that we need to resolve.