Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Pandgt;When the prevailing system of governing divides the planet into mutually exclusive territorial monopolies of force, what institutions can govern the Internet, with its transnational scope, boundless scale, and distributed control? Given filtering-censorship by states and concerns over national cyber-security, it is often assumed that the Internet will inevitably be subordinated to the traditional system of nation-states. In Networks and States, Milton Mueller counters this, showing how Internet governance poses novel and fascinating governance issues that give rise to a global politics and new transnational institutions. Drawing on theories of networked governance, Mueller provides a broad overview of Internet governance from the formation of ICANN to the clash at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the formation of the Internet Governance Forum, the global assault on peer-to-peer file sharing and the rise of national-level Internet control and security concerns. Mueller identifies four areas of conflict and coordination that are generating a global politics of Internet governance: intellectual property, cyber-security, content regulation, and the control of critical Internet resources (domain names and IP addresses). He investigates how recent theories about networked governance and peer production can be applied to the Internet, offers case studies that illustrate the Internet's unique governance problems, and charts the historical evolution of global Internet governance institutions, including the formation of a transnational policy network around the WSIS. Internet governance has become a source of conflict in international relations. Networks and States explores the important role that emerging transnational institutions could play in fostering global governance of communication-information policy.andlt;/Pandgt;
Review
"Networks and States is a reasoned and spirited contribution to the debates over the meaning — indeed, the very existence — of Internet governance. There is much to contest in it, which makes it all the more interesting and vital."
—Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Law and Professor of Computer Science, Harvard University, and author of The Future of the Internet — And How to Stop It."A brilliant political account of the clash between the new power of transnational Internet governance institutions and the traditional role of the nation-state as the principal mechanism of governance. Networks and States is required reading for anyone concerned about protecting Internet freedom on a global scale as these battles unfold."
—Laura DeNardis, Yale University, author of Protocol Politics: The Globalization of Internet Governance"Milton Mueller’s account of Internet governance is innovative in its application of network theory, fascinating in its case studies, and likely controversial in its policy judgments. In short, it is exactly what policy scholarship should contribute to a major international issue."
—Peter F. Cowhey, Qualcomm Endowed Chair in Communications and Technology Policy, University of California, San Diego
Review
A brilliant political account of the clash between the new power of transnational Internet governance institutions and the traditional role of the nation-state as the principal mechanism of governance. Networks and States is required reading for anyone concerned about protecting Internet freedom on a global scale as these battles unfold. < b=""> Diego Merani <> - - < -="" i="" -=""> - Computing Reviews - < -="" -="">
Review
Networks and States is a reasoned and spirited contribution to the debates over the meaning -- indeed, the very existence -- of Internet governance. There is much to contest in it, which makes it all the more interesting and vital. < b=""> Laura DeNardis <> , Yale University, < i=""> author of Protocol Politics: The Globalization of Internet Governance <>
Review
Milton Mueller's account of Internet governance is innovative in its application of network theory, fascinating in its case studies, and likely controversial in its policy judgments. In short, it is exactly what policy scholarship should contribute to a major international issue. < b=""> Jonathan Zittrain <> , Professor of Law and Professor of Computer Science, Harvard University, and author of < i=""> The Future of the Internet -- And How to Stop It <>
Review
I recommend this book to professionals in the field, as it is an exploratory analysis that is well supplemented with references to relevant sources. The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;andquot;I recommend this book to professionals in the field, as it is an exploratory analysis that is well supplemented with references to relevant sources.andquot; -- andlt;Bandgt;Diego Meraniandlt;/Bandgt;, andlt;Iandgt;Computing Reviewsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"A brilliant political account of the clash between the new power of transnational Internet governance institutions and the traditional role of the nation-state as the principal mechanism of governance. Networks and States is required reading for anyone concerned about protecting Internet freedom on a global scale as these battles unfold." -- andlt;Bandgt;Laura DeNardisandlt;/Bandgt;, Yale University, andlt;Iandgt;author of Protocol Politics: The Globalization of Internet Governanceandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Networks and States is a reasoned and spirited contribution to the debates over the meaning -- indeed, the very existence -- of Internet governance. There is much to contest in it, which makes it all the more interesting and vital." -- andlt;Bandgt;Jonathan Zittrainandlt;/Bandgt;, Professor of Law and Professor of Computer Science, Harvard University, and author of andlt;Iandgt;The Future of the Internet -- And How to Stop Itandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Milton Mueller's account of Internet governance is innovative in its application of network theory, fascinating in its case studies, and likely controversial in its policy judgments. In short, it is exactly what policy scholarship should contribute to a major international issue." -- andlt;Bandgt;Peter F. Cowheyandlt;/Bandgt;, Qualcomm Endowed Chair in Communications and Technology Policy, University of California, San Diegoandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
Networks and States is a reasoned and spirited contribution to the debates over the meaning -- indeed, the very existence -- of Internet governance. There is much to contest in it, which makes it all the more interesting and vital. < b=""> Laura DeNardis <> , Yale University, < i=""> author of Protocol Politics: The Globalization of Internet Governance <>
Review
Milton Mueller's account of Internet governance is innovative in its application of network theory, fascinating in its case studies, and likely controversial in its policy judgments. In short, it is exactly what policy scholarship should contribute to a major international issue. < b=""> Jonathan Zittrain <> , Professor of Law and Professor of Computer Science, Harvard University, and author of < i=""> The Future of the Internet -- And How to Stop It <>
Synopsis
When the prevailing system of governing divides the planet into mutually exclusive territorial monopolies of force, what institutions can govern the Internet, with its transnational scope, boundless scale, and distributed control? Given filtering/censorship by states and concerns over national cybersecurity, it is often assumed that the Internet will inevitably be subordinated to the traditional system of nation-states. In
Networks and States, Milton Mueller counters this, showing how Internet governance poses novel and fascinating governance issues that give rise to a global politics and new transnational institutions. Drawing on theories of networked governance, Mueller provides a broad overview of Internet governance from the formation of ICANN to the clash at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the formation of the Internet Governance Forum, the global assault on peer-to-peer file sharing, and the rise of national-level Internet control and security concerns.
Internet governance has become a source of conflict in international relations. Networks and States explores the important role that emerging transnational institutions could play in fostering global governance of communication-information policy.
Synopsis
How institutions for Internet governance are emerging from the tension between the territorially bound nation-state and a transnational network society.
Synopsis
When the prevailing system of governing divides the planet into mutually exclusive territorial monopolies of force, what institutions can govern the Internet, with its transnational scope, boundless scale, and distributed control? Given filtering-censorship by states and concerns over national cyber-security, it is often assumed that the Internet will inevitably be subordinated to the traditional system of nation-states. In
Synopsis
andlt;Pandgt;How institutions for Internet governance are emerging from the tension between the territorially bound nation-state and a transnational network society.andlt;/Pandgt;
About the Author
Milton L. Mueller is Professor at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies. He is the author of Ruling the Root: Internet Governance and the Taming of Cyberspace (MIT Press, 2002) and other books.