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Book Review
Cyberpower: The Culture of Politics of
Cyberspace and the Internet
written by Tim Jordan*
reviewed by Sandy
MacLean
Vice Chancellor Emeritus
University of Missouri-St.
Louis
Jordan, T. (2000). Cyberpower: The Culture and
Politics of Cyberspace and the Internet. Routledge, New
York, New York.
Since the early 1990's, a number of scholars have been
studying the impact of cyberspace, (e.g., computers, the
Internet, and e-mail), on culture, society, economics, and
politics. These scholars study both the impact of change
within cyberspace and its growing influence on society. This
book is a study of power as it relates to cyberspace. In
other words, which individuals and groups of individuals
make decisions that now govern and will govern cyberspace in
the future. The primary audience for the study is the
students and scholars who study cyberspace and its influence
internally and externally.
Readers of this book need to understand that Jordan and
his colleagues consider cyberspace much more than a highly
efficient and effective tool. Instead they view cyberspace
as a new reality, a virtual reality that exists parallel
with physical reality. For them, virtual reality has its own
separate existence with its own members, culture, societies,
politics, and economics. Acceptance of this position, not
necessarily adoption of it, is an important first step for
anyone who wants to understand this book and those who study
this new field of inquiry.
Cyberpower has seven chapters. Chapter one
introduces the reader to the study of power within
cyberspace. Chapter two establishes the parameters of this
study. The remaining chapters are The Virtual Individual,
The Virtual Social I (on-line), The Virtual Social II
(off-line), The Virtual Imaginary, and the concluding
chapter titled Cyberpower.
It is not within the scope of this review to summarize
all chapters; however, the final chapter has some
interesting conclusions. Since cyberspace is both
decentralized and anti-hierarchical, libertarianism is the
foundational philosophy of cyberspace. Libertarianism is
essential because in cyberspace individualism is fostered,
people are constructing their own cybercommunities, and
central power neither works nor is possible at this time.
The paradox, states Jordan, is that the technopower elite
controls power within cyberspace. The technopower elite
controls cyberspace economically, by developing and
administering policy, and arranging social relationships.
The technopower elite includes a wide range of individuals
from programmers to Bill Gates. Unfortunately, only the
technopower elite has the skills and knowledge to utilize,
manipulate, manage, and further develop cyberspace, states
Jordan. He goes on to say that because cyberspace is so
complex and continues to become more complex, the
technopower elite, over time, will become more powerful.
This is not a book that one picks up and reads for
pleasure. It is very technical and written for those who
study the sociological, economic, and political aspects of
cyberspace. The author's glossary, chapter introductions,
and chapter notes were helpful. This reader relied
frequently on chapter notes to gain a better understanding
of the ideas, concepts, and assertions.
Cyberpower is worth reading for those who are
interested in seeking a deeper understanding of cyberspace
and the growing cyberspace community. Further
Cyberpower proved to be thought provoking and a topic
for interesting conversation for friends who are excited
about cyberspace.
*Tim Jordan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of
Sociology, University of East London, London, England.
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