How the Internet Affects National Sovereignty
Interesting paper by Melissa Hathaway: “Connected Choices: How the Internet Is Challenging Sovereign Decisions.”
Abstract: Modern societies are in the middle of a strategic, multidimensional competition for money, power, and control over all aspects of the Internet and the Internet economy. This article discusses the increasing pace of discord and the competing interests that are unfolding in the current debate concerning the control and governance of the Internet and its infrastructure. Some countries are more prepared for and committed to winning tactical battles than are others on the road to asserting themselves as an Internet power. Some are acutely aware of what is at stake; the question is whether they will be the master or the victim of these multilayered power struggles as subtle and not-so-subtle connected choices are being made. Understanding this debate requires an appreciation of the entangled economic, technical, regulatory, political, and social interests implicated by the Internet. Those states that are prepared for and understand the many facets of the Internet will likely end up on top.
SoWhatDidYouExpect • November 6, 2014 7:20 AM
I have 50 years of experience with computers. Back in the (main frame) day, when these computer networks were entirely closed affairs (VTAM, SNA, proprietary everything), one would have been fired from their job to even think about opening access to the public much less other nations (actually doing it would have raised criminal suspicion and/or jail time).
Yet, when the internet (whatever that is these days) was born, and made available everywhere, it seems we have been in a rush to expose ourseleves to the world and seemingly not caring about the downsides. Not only have governments accepted this but also the big businesses (all combined = ‘big brother’), who seem to have more to gain than to lose. The only time big business makes rapid change is when they want it for their gain, yet they make little or no change to their own intentions or methodology.
The game at hand is one sided. The consumer and those not in control of wealth & power, lose ground while the perpetrators of influence, intimidation & control, make greater gains, such that we begin to look like the countries that resist such overtures (what we are trying to do threatens what they already have).
The internet is the classic example of Skinner’s Box, or the Lord of The Rings trilogy offshoot…”one network to rule them all”. In this case, Mordor wins and Middle Earth loses.