Internet Wars: The Struggle for Power in the 21st Century

by Fergus Hanson

Vivid, bold and brisk, Internet Wars traces one of the most critical emerging power struggles of the 21st century, the battle to control the internet.

Already exploitation of this super-network has helped create the world's most valuable company, toppled governments, led to the largest wealth transfer in history, and created the most extensive global surveillance system ever known.

Google's Eric Schmidt described the internet as 'the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand'. Yet only by understanding the broad currents of the internet's growth will we be able to secure its vitality and promise into the future.

Internet Wars is a call to action for a more informed debate about a contest that will profoundly affect us all for generations to come.

'... thoughtfully portrays how power structures are being twisted, bent and broken by people and institutions who are Internet-smart' - Alec Ross, Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2015

About the author

Described by the BBC as "one of the world's leading experts on e-diplomacy," Fergus's work focuses on how new technologies are reshaping the world. He's worked at think-tanks including the Brookings Institution and is a former diplomat and Fulbright scholar.

He has worked as a government consultant countering violent extremism online and teaches e-politics at Murdoch University. He was born in Melbourne and now lives in Cambridge UK. You can follow him @fergushanson

Reviews

[Patrick Longfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much of our lives are lived through and/or controlled by the internet, so I read with interest Internet Wars, which informs and illuminates so many of the issues we find ourselves facing daily.
The author makes it quite clear that we are confronted with a tool so seemingly simple, yet so immensely powerful. Powerful in the hands of both the person on the street and those who hold access to a traditional power-base.
The discussion of the role of advertising as an internet financing agent caught my attention because, Hanson says, without it, the internet would probably fail. How we as individuals end up managing this remains to be seen, for the author describes how we are increasingly being shown products which the ‘net’ decides we might wish to buy.
It is interesting that the internet’s creators, while holding the keys to the kingdom, have allowed it to develop in an evolutionary manner. However, it is good to be reminded that we should not rely on evolution from here. If we are to keep the internet we want, we must be proactive so we are not captured by the very system that gave us the unimaginable freedom we have today. Smacks a bit like Asimov and I Robot and its offspring.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute must-read!

Internet Wars is an insightful and thought-provoking examination of the ways the internet is rapidly changing our society. The writing is breezy and engaging and packed full of memorable stories.

Hanson shows how the internet is irrevocably changing global power structures; transforming civil society; shifting the balance in international relations and national politics; and creating new economic titans.

Hanson also shows how far behind we are in understanding the implications of these changes and asks important questions about how we should guide the future of the internet.

Chapter 3 in particular is a compelling read about state power, covering the arab spring, cyber warfare and unparalleled state-sponsored corporate espionage.

[Alex Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fergus Hanson has wrangled the octopus with this book, a masterful account and analysis of the 'messy reality' of the internet and how it is changing the world - not always in a good way.Hanson illustrates his arguments with some cracking case-studies, which makes the medicine go down very well indeed - it is an excellent read as well as a fascinating illumination of the complex beast that is the internet. Hanson is a meticulous researcher (there are 575 footnotes) who wends his way deftly from the advocacy of a poor lesbian South African for victims of 'corrective rape' to revolution and Tahrir square, from London to cyber attacks from China.

[Patrick Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read... with an unbiased view of something so ubiquitous I can't think of how the world operated without it, let alone how much it will change it in the future. Reading it makes me appreciate how amazing it is to be living here for such a disruptive point in time in human history.

[Jane Cush · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an older reader I found this book fascinating. It is full of interesting facts, some shocking stories and incredible surprises about the ubiquitous Mr. Google. We would do well to be warned and wary of the Internets tentacles. Jane C

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting read. Internet Wars looks at how the globalisation of communication through the internet is changing our world and political systems. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in global power dynamics and how the world is being transformed through the internet.

[Nic Oslear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and thought provoking!

Opened my eyes to how the internet has been used, and will be used in the future. It peels back a layer of the internet and the organisations that use it and exposes their intentions

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Best and most enlightening book I have read in some time, really puts things into perspective about how far the internet has come.. no spoilers but this is a well researched and eloquently written work. Looking forward to more from this author

[Blayne Northcote · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and enjoyable read. The book includes a lot of interesting reflections on how the Internet has affected global and domestic political dynamics.