Cyber China: Reshaping National Identities in the Age of Information (CERI Series in International Relations and Political Economy) [Hardcover]

Francoise Mengin (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2004 | ISBN-10: 1403965781 | ISBN-13: 978-1403965783 | Edition: First Edition

The essays in this volume explore the new power struggles created in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong through information technology. The contributors analyze the interaction between the development of information technologies and social logic on the one hand and processes of unification and fragmentation on the other. They seek to highlight the strategies of public and private actors aimed at monopolizing the benefits created by the information society-whether for monetary gain or bureaucratic consolidation-as well as the new loci of power now emerging. The book is organized around two main themes: one exploring societal change and power relations, the second examining the restructuring of Greater China's space. In so doing, the book seeks to shed light on both the state formation process as well as international relations theory.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Readers without knowledge in IT skill could familiarize themselves with the society of new information technology simply by reading through this book. The self-empowering potential bestowed by the text would upgrade the quality of their participation without doubt. The act of reading this book itself produces useful self-knowledge. The book enables the readers to transcend the geography of greater China."
--Chih-yu Shih, National Chair Professor, Graduate Institute of Political Science, National Taiwan University

"This is a well-balanced collection of timely and thought-provoking essays. The authors survey the manifold ramifications of the ongoing information revolution in the China region from diverse perspectives, including matters of international security, censorship and domestic surveillance, cross-border corporate-competitive strategies for survival in the new knowledge economy, changing patterns of regional economic and cultural integration, and the refashioning of national identities that can be seen to be occurring amidst the simultaneous processes of technological localization and globalization. This is one work whose informative text and illuminating footnotes you will want to move through with your computer switched on and connected to the Internet, so that you can not only read about China's IT revolution, but also see the sites."
--Vivienne Shue, Oxford University

From the Inside Flap

“Readers without knowledge in IT skill could familiarize themselves with the society of new information technology simply by reading through this book. The self-empowering potential bestowed by the text would upgrade the quality of their participation without doubt. The act of reading this book itself produces useful self-knowledge. The book enables the readers to transcend the geography of greater China.”
--Chih-yu Shih, National Chair Professor, Graduate Institute of Political Science, National Taiwan University

“This is a well-balanced collection of timely and thought-provoking essays. The authors survey the manifold ramifications of the ongoing information revolution in the China region from diverse perspectives, including matters of international security, censorship and domestic surveillance, cross-border corporate-competitive strategies for survival in the new knowledge economy, changing patterns of regional economic and cultural integration, and the refashioning of national identities that can be seen to be occurring amidst the simultaneous processes of technological localization and globalization. This is one work whose informative text and illuminating footnotes you will want to move through with your computer switched on and connected to the Internet, so that you can not only read about China’s IT revolution, but also see the sites.”
--Vivienne Shue, Oxford University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; First Edition edition (November 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403965781
• ISBN-13: 978-1403965783
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,523,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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4.0 out of 5 stars Berglund Center for Internet Studies Review by Jeffrey Barlow, April 26, 2011

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Berglund Center for Internet Studies - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cyber China: Reshaping National Identities in the Age of Information (CERI Series in International Relations and Political Economy) (Hardcover)

Cyber China is one of a series of works emanating from the most distinguished French center in International Studies, the Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Internationales (CERI). The topic itself---Chinese Cyberspace---of course, is necessarily technical. Some of the articles are highly technical in their references to international governing bodies, as well as to computer hardware, software, and Internet protocols. The list of abbreviations routinely used in the articles runs almost two and one-half pages. While those not familiar with recent Chinese political history can understand the work, some knowledge would be very helpful.

These caveats aside, however, the work could be useful to a number of audiences. The book is divided into three sections, each of three or four chapters. These sections give first, a general introduction to Chinese cyberspace, particularly to the relationship between Chinese "Netizens" and Chinese authorities. The overwhelming question in this lead-off section is the one that is most often asked of Chinese cyberspace: Will the increased use of the Internet with its access to broader flows of information as well as to an ability to express individual opinion, necessarily democratize China?

For a full review see Interface, Volume 6, Issue 5.