Politics of Internet Communication

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The Politics of Internet Communication is a comprehensive study of the intersection of politics and the Internet. Recognizing the changes in the Internet over time, the book provides an innovative analysis of online access, activities, advocacy, government, journalism, and social capital. An in-depth cyberlaw section provides an accessible framework for understanding spam, copyright, pornography, privacy, and domain names. Written from an interdisciplinary perspective, the book is infused with original longitudinal data and landmark events that reveal how the Internet is enriching both public and private life. The book finds much humor in the politics of Internet communication ranging from vociferous positions on imaginary legislation to the animal rights group PETA’s attempt to take peta.org from "People Eating Tasty Animals."

Table of Contents: Introduction, Characteristics and Development of the Internet, User Base of the Internet, Impact of Internet Use, Internet Access Policy, Cybercampaigning, Party and Group Advocacy on the Internet, E-Government, Journalism and the Internet, Fundamentals of Cyberlaw, Content Regulation, Domain Name Law, Piracy and Privacy in Cyberspace, The Internet in Global Democracies, Walls and Ladders in Nations Limiting Political Freedom, Conclusion

ISBN 0-7425-2926-6 paper; 0-7425-2925-8 hardcover; published by Rowman & Littlefield

A leader in the field of Internet politics, Robert Klotz authored several of the earliest systematic studies of online advocacy, which appeared in Political Communication and in other journals. A young scholar at the University of Southern Maine, he has published a humorous short story in College Times featuring winners of the "Young at Art Contest for Emerging Talent" and has been recognized as one of "tomorrow’s best scholars" whose essay on future agendas in political communication was part of Communication in U.S. Elections. His background in law includes three years consulting on a federal court case and teaching Constitutional Law.

"Overall, a good resource providing insight into Internet regulation, government on the Web, and the Internet and political advocacy. Recommended. General Readers." - Choice

Named one of the "Editor's Top 10 Media Choices" of "media volumes that were particularly vivid and dramatized different elements of the discipline of communication in impressive ways" - The Review of Communication

"Robert J. Klotz's fascinating book explores the roots and growth of one of the most important tools of communication and political change in human history, the Internet.... He balances statistics with vivid examples, making the life of the political Internet accessible." - Rhetoric & Public Affairs

"Academics and general readers alike will find this to be a stimulating and useful book." - Philip Seib, award-winning journalist and scholar at Marquette University

"Compelling... With engaging historical anecdotes and the straightforward use of descriptive statistics, he succeeds in making many of the key dimensions of the politics of Internet communication accessible." - Perspectives on Politics

"Does a good job of conceptualizing the Internet through the lenses of other media... rich data and historical detail." - Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

"Clear, concise, and packed full of useful empirical data and historically rich detail, The Politics of Internet Communication deals with important issues currently debated by scholars and journalists." - Mark Joslyn, University of Kansas

"In bringing us up to speed on the growth, uses, and impact of Internet communication in democratic politics, Robert Klotz gives us a clear and compelling overview of important developments that will reshape politics in the twenty-first century." - Scott Althaus, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

"Klotz does a fine job of summarizing landmark court decisions, legislation, and governing bodies vis-a-vis the Internet. He provides adequate accounts of early patterns and achievements in online campaigns for office and policy outcomes in the United States and delivers fresh perspective on that history... He sensibly interprets survey data about Net use through the lens of technological diffusion theory... There are more payoffs to come in contrasting Internet politics and policy during the pioneer years (1983-1994), the years of rapid early adoption (1995-1999), and the years of mainstreaming (2000-present)." - Michael Cornfield, Democracy Online Project

"This is a truly comprehensive overview, showing how the Internet grew from other media..." - Kevin Barnhurst, University of Illinois at Chicago

"We live in interesting times and Klotz has done an admirable job of documenting them." - Keith Comstock, Internet consultant and former CIO of West Virginia

April 2004 at Longfellow Books in Portland (ME)

The Politics of Internet Communication

by Robert Klotz