Rowman & Littlefield Publishers The Politics of Internet Communication

This concise book explores the wide range of topics at the intersection of politics and the Internet. Recognizing the changes in the Internet over time, Klotz provides an innovative analysis of online access, activities, advocacy, government, journalism, and social capital. The politics of the Internet is considered along with politics on the Internet. A highlight is the in-depth discussion of cyberlaw that provides an accessible framework for understanding the legal treatment of key issues such as music file-sharing, privacy, terrorism, spam, pornography, and domain names. Examples from the 2002 midterm elections and the early 2004 campaign fundraising success of Howard Dean add currency to the debate about the impact of the Internet on democratic politcs. The author conveys the vitality and humor of Internet politics in a way that readers will enjoy. From impassioned debate about imaginary legislation to the animal rights group PETA's lawsuit taking peta.org from "People Eating Tasty Animals," Klotz brings the colorful history of the Internet to life. Written from an interdisciplinary perspective, the book is infused with original longitudinal data, examples, online resources and landmark events that reveal how the Internet is enriching both public and private life. Review A truly comprehensive overview . . . including cases and controversies, summaries of data, trends, and histories dividing Internet politics into clear eras--all make The Politics of Internet Communication a strong textbook.--Kevin G. Barnhurst, University of Illinois, Chicago The Internet is changing how we do democracy, and The Politics of Internet Communication provides an accessible introduction to the reasons why. In bringing us up to speed on the growth, uses, and impact of Internet communication in democratic politics, Robert Klotz gives us a clear and compelling overview of important developments that will reshape politics in the twenty-first century.--Scott Althaus, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign This book is a must-read for anyone who hopes to understand the role of the Internet on democratic politics. Clear, concise, and packed full of useful empirical data and historically rich detail, The Politics of Internet Communication deals with important issues currently debated by scholars and journalists. Klotz's analyses are compelling and his conclusion that the Internet acts to strengthen the relationship between citizens and leaders offers a valuable contribution to the discussion of democracy and mass communications.--Mark Joslyn, The University of Kansas About the Author Robert J. Klotz is assistant professor of political science at the University of Southern Maine.