The Internet As A Diverse Community: Cultural, Organizational, and Political Issues

This volume addresses Internet and multimedia issues from an international perspective by outlining issues of international sovereignty and the potential impact of national interests on global technology policy. It supplies readers and students of Internet issues with a survey that points out accomplishments, issues, and problems. Gattiker's objective is to provide a broad view of Internet/technology-related theory; he also presents a treatise that integrates the ideas and thoughts of the various disciplines that address and discuss Internet matters.This book does not attempt to offer ready solutions to readers; instead, it provides a framework that promotes discussion of pertinent issues. Rather than of addressing narrow topics in great detail, the author adds breadth to the dialogue between the advocates and adversaries of the Internet and multimedia, while maintaining as much depth as possible. This resource attempts to reach a critical synthesis of the huge body of literature, including communication, economics, philosophy, political science, management, psychology, science policy, sociology, and telecommunication engineering. Furthermore, managerial elements, social policy, and ethical and moral arguments are used to illustrate the various applications of Internet-related technology as a continuum, rather than a dichotomy.