National Information Infrastructure Initiatives (Information Infrastructure Project at Harvard University)

The information revolution may be taking place on a global basis, but most policy regarding technology and computing is made on the national level. National policies vary wildly due to specific cultural, economic, and historic factors, not to mention the ever-present political maneuvering. Through a dozen case studies, this book analyzes how policy initiatives interact with information technology, especially now that the global Internet plays such a prominent role. It also looks at how traditional media such as broadcasting and publishing intersect with new media, and how policy adapted from older media can be like the proverbial square peg in a round hole. Each national case study contains substudies that look at how regional and international issues can shape national policy. The book is the outcome of work done at the Harvard Information Infrastructure Project.