CHINA AND THE INTERNET: POLITICS OF THE DIGITAL LEAP FORWARD; ED. BY CHRISTOPHER R. HUGHES

China and the Internet: Politics of the Digital Leap Forward is a comprehensive assessment of the political and economic impact of information and communication technologies (ITCs) on Chinese society. It provides in-depth analyses of topics including economic development, civil and political liberties, bureaucratic politics, international relations and security studies. The book covers the aspirations of Chinese policy-makers using the Internet to achieve a "digital leapfrog" of economic development. Avoiding technical jargon, the book is accessible to anyone interested in the social impact of the Internet and information and communication technologies, from those in academia to business and public policy-makers. China And The Internet: Politics Of The Digital Leap Forward Is A Comprehensive Assessment Of The Political And Economic Impact Of Information And Communication Technologies (icts) On Chinese Society. It Provides In-depth Analyses Of Topics Including Economic Development, Civil And Political Liberties, Bureaucratic Politics, International Relations And Security Studies. Throughout, The Authors Explore Methodological And Theoretical Problems - From The Reliability Of Data To The Nature Of The Relationship Between Technological And Social Change. Avoiding Technical Jargon, The Book Is Accessible To Anyone Interested In The Social Impact Of The Internet And Information And Communication Technologies, From Academia To Business And Public Policy-making.--book Jacket. Introduction: China's Digital Leap Forward / Christopher R. Hughes And Gudrun Wacker -- 1. Icts In China's Development Strategy / Xiudian Dai -- 2. Internet Growth And The Digital Divide: Implications For Spatial Development / Karsten Giese -- 3. The Internet And Censorship In China / Gudrun Wacker -- 4. Network Convergence And Bureaucratic Turf Wars / Junhua Zhang -- 5. (re-)imagining 'greater China': Silicon Valley And The Strategy Of Siliconization / Ngai-ling Sum -- 6. What's In A Name? China And The Domain Name System / Monika Ermert And Christopher R. Hughes -- 7. Fighting The Smokeless War: Icts And International Security / Christopher R. Hughes. Edited By Christopher R. Hughes And Gudrun Wacker. Series Numbered Retrospectively. This Volume ... Is The Product Of Two Workshops Organised Between The Asia Research Centre Of The London School Of Economics And The Stiftung Wissenschaft Und Politik (swp), Berlin, On 8-9 December 2000, And 21-23 February 2002--p. 1. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The book covers the aspirations of Chinese policy-makers for using the Internet to achieve a 'digital leapfrog' of economic development. After looking at the achievements made so far putting China online, the authors consider prospects for realising this digital leapfrog from a number of perspectives, including the nature of the one-party state, the lack of visible legal structure, the digital divide within China and the problem of bureaucratic turf wars and the technological time lag behind the advanced industrial economies. The chapters also explore normative issues, such as the state's ability to maintain control over the flow of information and to stifle political dissent, the impact of the Internet on the formation of national and regional identity and the impact of ICTs on international security Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of illustrations......Page 8 Notes on contributors......Page 10 List of abbreviations......Page 12 Introduction: China's digital leap forward......Page 16 ICTs in China's development strategy......Page 23 Internet growth and the digital divide: implications for spatial development......Page 45 The Internet and censorship in China......Page 73 Network convergence and bureaucratic turf wars......Page 98 (Re-)Imagining 'Greater China': Silicon Valley and the strategy of siliconization......Page 117 What's in a name? China and the Domain Name System......Page 142 Fighting the smokeless war: ICTs and international security......Page 154 Bibliography......Page 177 Index......Page 190 At first sight, the belief of China's reformist Premier Zhu Rongji that informatisation is the way to achieve a developmental 'leapfrog' seems to resound with echoes of the days when China tried to catch up with the advanced industrial states under the leadership of Mao Zedong. Avoiding technical jargon, the book is accessible to anyone interested in the social impact of the Internet and information and communication technologies, from those in academia to business and public policy makers __China and the Internet: Politics of the Digital Leap Forward__