The Internet of Elsewhere

Price: $25.95  

Subtitle: The Emergent Effects of a Wired World
Author: Cyrus Farivar
Subject: American Studies, Technology
Cloth ISBN: 978-0-8135-4962-0
Pages: 296 pages
Publication Date: May 2011

Praise for The Internet of Elsewhere

"Cyrus Farivar has written a brilliant first book. He has the thoughtful pen of a novelist, the observational zeal of an investigative journalist, and the insight of an experienced technologist."—Karim Sadjadpour, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

"Cyrus Farivarís skill as a perceptive analyst and captivating storyteller lets us see the future of a connected world through his seasoned eyes."—Ethan Zuckerman, Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University

"Cyrus Farivar, a great friend of Estonia, has chronicled my countryís recent and unprecedented technological history with this exceptional book. He understands not only what Estonia can teach the rest of the world but, moreover, he makes the insightful case for the necessity of modern global citizens to understand crucial Internet issues."—The Honorable President Toomas Hendrik Ilves of Estonia

Description:

Through the lens of culture, The Internet of Elsewhere looks at the role of the Internet as a catalyst in transforming communications, politics, and economics. Cyrus Farivar explores the Internet's history and effects in four distinct and, to some, surprising societies—Iran, Estonia, South Korea, and Senegal. He profiles Web pioneers in these countries and, at the same time, surveys the environments in which they each work. After all, contends Farivar, despite Californiaís great success in creating the Internet and spawning companies like Apple and Google, in some areas the United States is still years behind other nations.

Surprised? You won't be for long as Farivar proves there are reasons that . . .

• Skype was invented in Estonia—the same country that developed a digital ID system and e-voting;
• Iran was the first country in the world to arrest a blogger, in 2003;
• South Korea is the most wired country on the planet, with faster and less expensive broadband than anywhere in the United States;
• Senegal may be one of sub-Saharan Africaís best chances for greater Internet access.

The Internet of Elsewhere brings forth a new complex and modern understanding of how the Internet spreads globally, with both good and bad effects. In the words of the author . . .

"The Internet is not, in fact, a seed. It does not have the ability to bring about world peace and the elimination of the nation-state, any more than a telegraph did. It is but a tool, which when combined effectively with local political and economic realities, can have demonstrably positive and often surprising effects. However, this tool can be co-opted and/or fought against by regimes that are not ready for it to be used freely. This is why manifestations of the Internet remain so varied in different corners of the globe. This book tells the story of what happens when the Internet collides, head-on, with history unfamiliar to most Americans."

CYRUS FARIVAR is the host of Spectrum, Deutsche Welle Englishís internationally syndicated science and technology radio program. As a freelance technology journalist, he also regularly reports for National Public Radio, The World (WGBH/PRI/BBC), and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.