Back to Welcome The books recommended on this page have been selected carefully on the basis of their relevance to research and articles on the Internet, democracy and human rights, as well as research and articles on the links between these three topics. I have no personal nor financial or other links with either the authors, editors or publishers of these books. At present, the descriptions of the books have been taken from the backs of the books themselves and have not been edited by me in any way. However, I do intend to add my own reviews to the currently presented information on the selected books. Robin van Koert London, December 2004
		From Quill to Cursor Freedom of the Media in the Digital Era Papers from the Workshop on Freedom of the Media and the Internet 2003, Vienna: OSCE The Internet offers unprecedented means for people all over the world to distribute, exchange and access information. Information and ideas on the Internet are typically not bound by state borders, which makes it easier for people to circumvent existing methods of censorship. However, while the Internet is rapidly becoming more widespread and accepted, so are attempts to curtail this new freedom of expression and the development of new technologies also brings along new means of censorship. This book is a collection of contributions to a workshop on freedom of the media in the digital area, organized by the OSCE.
		Cyberactivism Online Activism in Theory and Practice Edited by Martha McCaughey and Michael Ayers 2003, New York: Routledge Cyberactivism documents and critiques the growing importance of activism taking place through the Internet. Mixing theory with practical activist approaches, the contributors show not only how activists have incorporated recent technology as a tool for change, but also how online activists have changed the definitions of activism, community, collective identity, and democratic change. Topics addressed range from the Zapatista movement's use of the Web to promote its cause globally to the establishment of alternative media sources like indymedia.org to the direct action of "hacktivists" who disrupt commercial computer networks.
		Digital Democracy Discourse and Decision Making in the Information Age Edited by Barry Hague and Brian Loader 1999, New York: Routledge The exponential growth of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as the Internet, alongside growing concerns about the failure of advanced societies to live up to the democratic ideal, has produced much interest in the prospects of a "digital democracy". On one side, evangelists of the emancipatory potential of ICTs describe the emergence of an electronic commons in which citizens can deliberate in an informed manner on matters of collective concern. On the other side there are those who present a vision of the death of democracy and the emergence of a "Big Brother" state based upon electronic surveillance of citizens. By drawing together empirical evidence from Europe, the US and Canada, Digital Democracy attempts to separate the rhetoric from the reality concerning the actual and potential impacts of ICTs on democratic institutions and practice.
		Liberating Cyberspace Civil Liberties, Human Rights & The Internet Edited by LIBERTY 1999, London: Pluto Press Does the exponential growth of the Internet really mark a revolution in human interaction and communication, providing truly democratic access to information and ideas? Or, compounded by a growing number of competing interests now arguing for the introduction of more rigorous controls, will the full potential of the Internet fail to be recognised? Liberating Cyberspace is the first volume to assess the impact of the Internet on our basic civil rights. Addressing the key questions, contributors examine a range of topics, from copyright and encryption to free speech, privacy and freedom of information. A series of critical case studies considers the potential of the Internet for promoting international women's rights, its role in the recent McLibel trial, and to what extent the Internet can or should create new copyright and property laws of its own.
		Cyberspace Divide Equality, Agency and Policy in the Information Society Edited by Brian Loader 1998, London: Routledge The dramatic advances in computer and telecommunications technologies, such as the Internet, virtual reality, smart cards or multimedia applications, are increasingly regarded as ushering in a new form of society: the information society. Politicians, policy makers and business gurus are all encouraging us to join the information superhighway at the nearest junction or risk being excluded from the social and economic benefits of the information revolution. Cyberspace Divide critically considers the complex relationship between technological change, its effect upon social divisions, its consequences for social action and the emerging strategies for social inclusion in the Information Age.