This compelling book focuses on the global formation of the Internet
system. It contests the common belief that the Internet’s adoptio
n was inevitable and instead examines the social and economic processe
s that allowed to it to prevail over competing standards and methods
for achieving a global information infrastructure. The author demonst
rates how the current Internet system was not the only possible choice
, nor the best data network in terms of technological and economic
performance. It is therefore vital, he argues, to understand the way
in which different political and economic interests have helped shaped
the Internet and allowed it to overcome rival technologies. Issues
of particular importance include the role of negotiations among differ
ent social groups in the design of the Internet as well as the influen
ce of US promotion. The author also examines patterns of growth and
pervasiveness of the Internet between different regions and countries,
providing new evidence on the factors influencing the extent of the
‘digital divide’. Using econometric models, he goes on to
identify the features of the co-evolution of the Internet and other
sub-systems within countries, and highlights the most interesting
features of their local and global interplay. Researchers and academi
cs involved with science and technology policy, industrial and corpora
te change, and the information society will welcome this insightful,
original and highly pertinent book. It will also be of value for
anyone with an interest in how the backbone of the digital economy
was formed.

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