This book examines the development of internet policymaking over the last forty years. Drawing on evidence from France and elsewhere, it adopts a sociohistorical perspective to offer insights into the ways democratic states regulate the internet and digital transformation more generally. Adopting a chronological approach and utilising both policy analysis and interviews with key actors, it retells the changing role of the state in internet regulation since the inception of the internet to the present day. It also explores the complex relationships between public administrations and internet organizations, and considers whether states are really capable of governing the digital space. It will appeal to all those interested in public policy, digital studies, sociology and communication studies.

Examines the development of internet policymaking over the last forty years Offers insights into the ways democratic states regulate the internet and digital transformation Explores the complex relationships between public administrations and internet organizations

Autorentext

Anne Bellon is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the Université de Technologie de Compiègne, France. Her research interests include internet regulation, online democracy, digital mobilizations and state transformation.

Inhalt

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2: The Origins of Networks: From Research Policies to Internet Politics.- Chapter 3: The State against the Internet: Bureaucratic Resistance to the network in France.- Chapter 4: Geeks, Webmasters and State technologists: Evangelizing the Internet.- Chapter 5: A Revolutionary moment?: Experimenting e-Government in France.- Chapter 6: The pirate years: Copyright policies in the 20002010 decade.- Chapter 7: Towards a digital mainstreaming.- Chapter 8: Conclusion: A Multi-Faceted Digital Revolution.