Title: The Net Delusion: How Not To Liberate The World
Author: Evgeny Morozov
First published November 16, 2010
408 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781846143533 (ISBN10: 1846143535)
Rating: 3.67
Overview
Despite the hype about the liberating power of the internet, authoritarian regimes continue to rule with an iron fist, and dissenters are still silenced. In his eye-opening book, The Net Delusion: How Not to Liberate the World, journalist and social commentator Evgeny Morozov argues that the Western world’s obsession with using digital media to promote democracy may have backfired.
Morozov argues that the internet can be used by oppressive governments to monitor and control their populations, and that initiatives like “Internet freedom” may do more harm than good. Drawing on compelling evidence, he challenges the notion that the internet is inherently liberating and urges us to reconsider how we approach diplomacy in the digital age.
A must-read for anyone interested in the future of democracy.
About the Author
Foreign Policy’s contributing editor, Evgeny Morozov, is an expert on the intersection of the Internet and global politics. He shares his insights on his blog “Net Effect”.
Morozov has an impressive resume, having held positions as a visiting scholar at Stanford University, a Schwartz fellow at the New America Foundation, a Yahoo! fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, a fellow at George Soros’s Open Society Institute, and the Director of New Media at Transitions Online.
Editoral Review
The Net Delusion: How Not To Liberate The World by Evgeny Morozov is a thought-provoking analysis of the impact of technology on political activism and freedom. Published in 2010, the book explores the notion that the internet is not necessarily a force for democracy and liberation, but rather a tool that can be used by authoritarian governments to maintain control over their citizens.
Morozov is a Belarusian writer and researcher who has become one of the most influential thinkers on the intersection of politics and technology. He is a former visiting scholar at Stanford University and has written for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Economist, and The Atlantic.
The Net Delusion is written in a clear and accessible style, blending academic research with witty observations and anecdotes. Morozov’s thesis is that the rise of the internet has led to a false belief that it will automatically empower individuals and weaken authoritarian regimes.
Drawing on examples from around the world, including the Arab Spring, he argues that this view is overly simplistic and ignores the ways in which governments can harness technology to monitor and control their citizens. The book is divided into four parts, each examining different aspects of the relationship between technology and politics.
Part One sets the scene, providing an overview of the internet’s role in contemporary politics. Part Two looks at the myth of the twitter revolution and examines the limitations of social media as a tool for political change.
Part Three explores the role of the internet in authoritarian states, focusing on countries such as China and Iran. Finally, Part Four considers the implications of the net for democracy and freedom, arguing that we need to be more vigilant about how technology is being used by governments and corporations.
Morozov’s argument is persuasive and well-supported, and the book is a valuable contribution to the debate about the impact of technology on society. He is particularly effective in highlighting the dangers of what he calls “solutionism” – the idea that every problem can be solved by technology.
His critique of Silicon Valley’s utopian vision of the internet as a force for good is timely and important. However, there are some limitations to the book.
Morozov can be overly pessimistic at times, and his focus on the negative aspects of technology can be draining. Additionally, some readers may find the book overly academic, with too much emphasis on theory and not enough on practical solutions.
Despite these criticisms, The Net Delusion is a must-read for anyone interested in the relationship between technology and politics. It is a well-written and thought-provoking book that challenges our assumptions about the internet and its impact on society.
Whether you are a policy maker, activist, or concerned citizen, this book will provide valuable insights into the complexities of the net and its potential for both liberation and oppression. Rating: 4/5.
The Net Delusion is a compelling and important book that should be read by anyone concerned about the impact of technology on political freedom. While it can be a challenging read at times, the book is well worth the effort, providing valuable insights into the complex and often contradictory relationship between technology and politics.
