There has been a battle here in america (albeit a dwindling one) for years over whether or not it is ok to teach darwinian evolution theory in schools without also teaching creationism. Imagine the social, philisophical, scientific, and ethical straight jacket that areas are held in where their "version" of creationism is held as science and evolution isnt even on the radar. I agree with Dovregguben's idea of a "powerful democratizing force". I also think however that the progress to be made in these places when access to information is nearly ubiquitous, as it is here, would go far beyond just democratization.