Addressing the World: National Identity and Internet Country Code Domains [Paperback]

Erica Schlesinger Wass (Editor), Dana M. Gallup (Contributor), Tushar A. Gandhi (Contributor), Toby E. Huff (Contributor), Patrik Lindén (Contributor), Martin Maguire (Contributor), Paiki Muswazi (Contributor), Patricio Poblete (Contributor), Jenny Sinclair (Contributor), Richard StClair (Contributor), Peter K. Yu (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0742528103 | ISBN-13: 978-0742528109 | Publication Date: September 29, 2003

Few people think of an Internet domain name like .us or .in as anything other than an address--when, in fact, it often serves as a roadmap to national identities and priorities. Addressing the World looks behind eleven of the 240 global domain names, from the United States and Australia to Moldova and East Timor, highlighting both the technology and the larger social constructs that make each distinct. Stories and first-person accounts by activists, journalists, Internet administrators, lawyers, and academics examine the sociological, historical, political, and technological development of Internet country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). Addressing the World reveals that technology is not just science and domain names are not just practical--they are an entryway into cultural education and understanding. Visit the author's website for additional information, including chapter abstracts and pictures and bios of all contributors.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Addressing the World is a sophisticated look at a poorly understood, if key, aspect of the Internet. Erica Schlesinger Wass and her contributors do an excellent job of delineating the political and commercial forces that shape a global medium in a world still dominated by nation states. (Robert Teitelman )

This volume provides the next generation of scholars with a useful base of international information on which to chart the politics and commodification of the Internet. Its information and detail are a welcome contribution to the field. It challenges assumptions about not only how the Internet operates but also what its naming conventions mean for issues of local and national identity, for access to free and uncensored communication capabilities, and for matters of political-and commercial-expression. (The Information Society )

This book offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the Internet and its implications for life in the global village. Taking an international perspective, the chapters provide a combination of original research and theory to explain the nature and impact of the Internet on diverse populations around the world. I recommend this book as a must-read for those interested in either the Internet or its global consequences. (Pavlik, John )

About the Author

Erica Schlesinger Wass is a journalist and an attorney in New York City. She writes about the Internet and the social implications of its use and governance. In addition to being a lecturer in the Strategic Communications Program at Columbia University, Wass is a frequent classroom guest lecturer on Internet law issues.

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (September 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0742528103
• ISBN-13: 978-0742528109
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,909,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable study of country code domain names..., December 23, 2003

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DomainPurpose.com (Mount Holly, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Addressing the World: National Identity and Internet Country Code Domains (Paperback)

"Addressing The World embarks on a less traveled but more meaningful journey of an in-depth look into country code domain extensions. The authors successfully show a correlation between the domain name and its culture, from both the real world and cyberspace perspectives. Addressing The World is a must read for anyone interested in learning about the origins of domain names and the purpose behind them."