Global Networks and Local Values: A Comparative Look at Germany and the United States (Compass Series (Washington, D.C.).)

Whether you call it the third wave, the information revolution, or the virtually connected world, the implications of a global information network are profound. As a society, we want to forestall the possible negative impacts without closing the door to the potential benefits. But how? Global Networks and Local Values provides perspective and direction, focusing on the relationship between global information networks and local values-that is, the political, economic, and cultural norms that shape our daily lives. This book is structured around an illuminating comparison between U.S. and German approaches toward global communication and information flow. (The United States and Germany are selected as two industrialized, highly networked countries with significant social differences.) Global Networks and Local Values captures the larger context of technology and culture, explores the political and commercial institutions where the global network functions, and highlights specific issues such as taxation, privacy, free speech, and more. The committee contrasts the technical uniformity that makes global communication possible with the diversity of the communities being served and explores the prospects that problems resulting from technology can be resolved by still more technology. This thoughtful volume will be of interest to everyone concerned about the social implications of the global Internet. Whether you call it the third wave, the information revolution, or the virtually connected world, the implications of a global information network are profound. As a society, we want to forestall the possible negative impacts without closing the door to the potential benefits. But how?

Global Networks and Local Values provides perspective and direction, focusing on the relationship between global information networks and local values-that is, the political, economic, and cultural norms that shape our daily lives. This book is structured around an illuminating comparison between U.S. and German approaches toward global communication and information flow. (The United States and Germany are selected as two industrialized, highly networked countries with significant social differences.)

Global Networks and Local Values captures the larger context of technology and culture, explores the political and commercial institutions where the global network functions, and highlights specific issues such as taxation, privacy, free speech, and more. The committee contrasts the technical uniformity that makes global communication possible with the diversity of the communities being served and explores the prospects that problems resulting from technology can be resolved by still more technology. This thoughtful volume will be of interest to everyone concerned about the social implications of the global Internet.

Whether you call it the third wave, the information revolution, or the virtually connected world, the implications of a global information network are profound. As a society, we want to forestall the possible negative impacts without closing the door to the potential benefits. But how?Global Networks and Local Values provides perspective and direction, focusing on the relationship between global information networks and local values -- that is, the political, economic, and cultural norms that shape our daily lives. This book is structured around an illuminating comparison between U.S. and German approaches toward global communication and information flow. (The United States and Germany are selected as two industrialized, highly networked countries with significant social differences.)Global Networks and Local Values captures the larger context of technology and culture, explores the political and commercial institutions where the global network functions, and highlights specific issues such as taxation, privacy, free speech, and more. The committee contrasts the technical uniformity that makes global communication possible with the diversity of the communities being served and explores the prospects that problems resulting from technology can be resolved by still more technology. This thoughtful volume will be of interest to everyone concerned about the social implications of the global Internet. Front Matter......Page 2 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgment of Reviewers......Page 12 Contents......Page 14 Executive Summary......Page 20 1 Introduction and Context......Page 34 2 The Evolution of Global Networks......Page 42 3 Understanding Local Values and How They Are Affected by Global Networks......Page 65 4 Democracy and Political Institutions......Page 93 5 Free Speech and the Internet......Page 125 6 Privacy and Freedom of Information......Page 152 7 The Impact of Global E-Commerce on Local Values......Page 189 8 Governance in Cyberspace: Multi-Level and Multi-Actor Constitutionalism......Page 209 9 Information Networks and Culture......Page 224 10 Principles and Conclusions......Page 243 Appendix Biographies......Page 252 Focuses on the relationship between global information networks and local values. This book draws a comparison between US and German approaches towards global communication and information flow. It explores the political and commercial institutions where the global network functions, and highlights issues like taxation and privacy.