Goodbye iSlave: A Manifesto for Digital Abolition (Geopolitics of Information)

Welcome to a brave new world of capitalism propelled by high tech, guarded by enterprising authority, and carried forward by millions of laborers being robbed of their souls. Gathered into mammoth factory complexes and terrified into obedience, these workers feed the world's addiction to iPhones and other commodities—a generation of iSlaves trapped in a global economic system that relies upon and studiously ignores their oppression. Focusing on the alliance between Apple and the notorious Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, Jack Linchuan Qiu examines how corporations and governments everywhere collude to build systems of domination, exploitation, and alienation. His interviews, news analysis, and first-hand observation show the circumstances faced by Foxconn workers—circumstances with vivid parallels in the Atlantic slave trade. Ironically, the fanatic consumption of digital media also creates compulsive free labor that constitutes a form of bondage for the user. Arguing as a digital abolitionist, Qiu draws inspiration from transborder activist groups and incidents of grassroots resistance to make a passionate plea aimed at uniting—and liberating—the forgotten workers who make our twenty-first-century lives possible. | Cover Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments 1. Departure: A Changing World 2. Patterns of Slavery 3. Manufacturing iSlaves 4. Manufactured iSlaves 5. Molding and Resisting Appconn 6. A Temporary Closure Appendix Notes Index | "Anyone who has used a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer, e-reader, video game console, or smart speaker would do well to read Goodbye iSlave . In tight effective prose, Qiu presents a gripping portrait of the lives of Foxconn workers and this description is made more confrontational by the uncompromising language Qiu deploys."— boundary 2 "Qiu's grim and eloquent book traces parallels between the digital economy and Atlantic slavery—from Congo mines to Foxconn sweatshops to iPhone users' labor. Full of insights, Goodbye iSlave also offers hope, in new forms of social struggle."—Raewyn Connell, author of Southern Theory: The Global Dynamics of Knowledge in Social Science " Networking China is highly recommended for researchers or students in the area of media and communications, economics, political sciences and Chinese studies, as well as practitioners and policy-makers in communication sectors." — Information, Communication & Society | Jack Linchuan Qiu is a professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is the author of Working-Class Network Society: Communication Technology and the Information Have-Less in Urban China . Welcome To A Brave New World Of Profit Making, Propelled By High Technology, Guarded By Enterprising Authority, And Carried Forward By Millions Of Workers. These Millions Of Bodies Gather In Gigantic Factory Complexes To Produce Coveted Commodities--iphones, Ipads, And Other Gadgets--for Consumers Worldwide. Yet, At These Same Factories, Working Conditions Are Notoriously Oppressive, To The Point That A Number Of Employees There Have Committed Suicide. In This Study, Jack Linchuan Qiu Examines Systems Of Domination, Exploitation, And Alienation In An Era Of Information Technology, Global Connectivity, And Individual Consumerism Engineered By Corporations In Collusion With National And Regional State Authorities. Focusing On Notorious Taiwanese Manufacturer Foxconn, Qiu Conceptually Develops The Idea Of Islavery And The Planetary Apple-foxconn Alliance He Calls Appconn. Beginning With Historical And Legal Explorations Of Slavery, He Compares Conditions Of Foxconn Workers To Those Of 17th Century Transatlantic Slaves. Moving On From Labor Issues, He Turns To Fanatic Consumption Of Digital Media And Argues That Compulsive Free Labor Contributions To Commodity Cycles Constitute Another Form Of Islavery. Qiu Relies On Interviews, News Analysis, And First-hand Observation To Clarify The Circumstances Faced By Foxconn Workers And Examine How A Transborder Working-class Civil Society Was Mobilized. He Analyzes How Media Play A Role In Shaping Public Opinion And Influencing Corporate And State Policies, Ultimately Affecting The Fate Of Workers At The Very Bottom Of The Problematic New International Division Of Labor-- Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Departure: A Changing World -- 2. Patterns Of Slavery -- 3. Manufacturing Islave -- 4. Manufactured Islave -- 5. Molding And Resisting Appconn -- 6. A Temporary Closure. Jack Linchuan Qiu. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Welcome to a brave new world of profit making, propelled by high technology, guarded by enterprising authority, and carried forward by millions of workers. These millions of bodies gather in gigantic factory complexes to produce coveted commodities--iPhones, iPads, and other gadgets--for consumers worldwide. Yet, at these same factories, working conditions are notoriously oppressive, to the point that a number of employees there have committed suicide. In this study, Jack Linchuan Qiu examines systems of domination, exploitation, and alienation in an era of information technology, global connectivity, and individual consumerism engineered by corporations in collusion with national and regional state authorities. Focusing on notorious Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, Qiu conceptually develops the idea of iSlavery and the planetary Apple-Foxconn alliance he calls Appconn. Beginning with historical and legal explorations of slavery, he compares conditions of Foxconn workers to those of 17th century transatlantic slaves. Moving on from labor issues, he turns to fanatic consumption of digital media and argues that compulsive free labor contributions to commodity cycles constitute another form of iSlavery. Qiu relies on interviews, news analysis, and first-hand observation to clarify the circumstances faced by Foxconn workers and examine how a transborder working-class civil society was mobilized. He analyzes how media play a role in shaping public opinion and influencing corporate and state policies, ultimately affecting the fate of workers at the very bottom of the problematic new international division of labor"-- Résumé de l'éditeur "Welcome to a brave new world of profit making, propelled by high technology, guarded by enterprising authority, and carried forward by millions of workers. These millions of bodies gather in gigantic factory complexes to produce coveted commodities--iPhones, iPads, and other gadgets--for consumers worldwide. Yet, at these same factories, working conditions are notoriously oppressive, to the point that a number of employees there have committed suicide. In this study, Jack Linchuan Qiu examines systems of domination, exploitation, and alienation in an era of information technology, global connectivity, and individual consumerism engineered by corporations in collusion with national and regional state authorities. Focusing on notorious Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, Qiu conceptually develops the idea of iSlavery and the planetary Apple-Foxconn alliance he calls Appconn. Beginning with historical and legal explorations of slavery, he compares conditions of Foxconn workers to those of 17th century transatlantic slaves. Moving on from labor issues, he turns to fanatic consumption of digital media and argues that compulsive free labor contributions to commodity cycles constitute another form of iSlavery. Qiu relies on interviews, news analysis, and first-hand observation to clarify the circumstances faced by Foxconn workers and examine how a transborder working-class civil society was mobilized. He analyzes how media play a role in shaping public opinion and influencing corporate and state policies, ultimately affecting the fate of workers at the very bottom of the problematic new international division of labor"-- Provided by publisher