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The current (and no doubt ongoing) debate over Internet content
regulation merely flags an issue the depth and breadth of which are yet to
be plumbed by most involved. In that context, The Governance of Cyberspace
is a welcome attempt at providing a framework for civilised discussion on
an increasingly contested site. Essentially, the book represents a
selection of papers presented at a conference held in 1995 at
the University of Teeside. Indeed, most of
the papers are available on the Web. The
conference managed to draw together a range of presenters from quite
disparate vocations -- the collection reflects this diversity with
contributions from academics, policy professionals and science fiction
writers.
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Subtitled Politics, Technology and Global Restructuring, The Governance
of Cyberspace begins with editor Brian
Loader's lucid and interesting preface to the collection. Rejecting
the various extreme views in the debate over governance -- from
cyber-libertarian to neo-Luddite -- Loader champions this collection as an
attempt to chart a moderate path though the quagmire.
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The book itself is divided into three sections, each of the which
canvasses a range of ideas within a particular theme. Together the
sections provide a useful way of approaching the issue of Internet
regulation.
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The first section is "Theorising Cyberspace" -- and draws on the experiences
and ideas of a range of individuals to paint a number of pictures
describing the reality of William Gibson's Consensual Hallucination. It
is the most effective section of the book. David Lyon sets the scene by
contrasting modern and postmodern approaches to contemplating cyberspace.
He is followed by Roger Burrows who draws on Neal Stephenson's Snowcrash
to 'overdraw' (his word) a sketch of virtual culture. Burrows's contention
is that science fiction writers present a clearer analytic understanding
than modern geo-cultural critics like Saskeen or Castells, and he makes a
sound, if provocative case. Gwyneth Jones, herself a science-fiction
writer, extends the exploration of the genre and reflects on artificial
intelligence as the 'neuroscience of cyberspace'. This is followed by
Simon Boddley who draws on the Foucauldian idea of 'governmentality' in a
rambling, yet useful rumination on the nature of self in the virtual
realm. Finally Ralph Schroeder explores early virtual reality systems,
giving a verdict on their usefulness. To his credit, he acknowledges that
his analysis is predicated on very early VR technologies.
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The second section defines boundaries for action -- in particular
interrogating the response of traditional governmental institutions to
the brave new world. In many ways it is an attempt to draw the
speculative theories of section one into a realm of action and
consequence. Frissen, Lenk and Carter give interesting perspectives from
the realms of existing public administration institutions.
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The third -- and least successful -- section focusses on privacy and
surveillance in an attempt to compartmentalise the policing of
cyberspace. A rather scary piece by Dorothy Denning, who portrays herself
as an uncritical apologist for 'legitimate government surveillance' --
whatever that is -- is followed by a rather narrow casting of the copyright
debate and a slightly hysterical account of hate-sites in cyberspace.
Whilst these areas are worthy of analysis, the section fails because it,
unlike the earlier parts of the book, doesn't appear to allow contrary
views.
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A quick glance at the current Routledge catalogue would reveal a long
list of cyberspatially inclined titles. Indeed, a rival publisher -- when
asked why her list on that particular field didn't appear nearly as
comprehensive -- replied that her intention was to publish 'good books on
cyberspace', not 'every book on cyberspace'. Whilst the book does canvass
a range of topics that are worthy of publication, a tighter publishing
regimen may have made it a more useful volume. Some of the sections -- and
some of the essays within each section -- are more successful than others.
The 'Theorising Cyberspace' section is more successful than the others.
The second and third sections show the age of the collection (first
published 1997, yet dealing with ideas raised at the conference in 1995).
In the thirty Internet years since the book was probably compiled, the
debates have progressed -- and if anything become more complex than
sometimes portrayed in this book. Indeed, the most successful chapters
are those that acknowledge complexity and frame their arguments with that
very much in mind.
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If read two years ago, The Governance of Cyberspace would have been an
accurate snapshot of much cyberspatial debate. Considered in that light,
it remains a useful starting point for discussion.
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Details
Brian D. Loader, ed. The Governance of Cyberspace: Politics, Technology and Global Restructuring. London: Routledge, 1997.
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Citation reference for this article
MLA style:
Sherman Young. "Governing the Ungovernable: 'The Governance of Cyberspace'." M/C Reviews 19 July 1999.
[your date of access] <http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/words/govern.html>.
Chicago style:
Sherman Young, "Governing the Ungovernable: 'The Governance of Cyberspace'," M/C Reviews 19 July 1999,
<http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/words/govern.html> ([your date of access]).
APA style:
Sherman Young. (1999) Governing the ungovernable: 'The Governance of Cyberspace'. M/C Reviews 19 July 1999.
<http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/words/govern.html> ([your date of access]).
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![[image]](http://www.thomson.com/routledge/CAT-IMAGES/15147247.gif)