[P2P-F] Fwd: Digital Disconnect

Sun Mar 17 21:51:20 CET 2013

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robert W. McChesney <rwmcchesney at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 5:59 PM
Subject: Digital Disconnect
To: Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004 at gmail.com>

**
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“A major new work by one of the nation's leading analysts of media.… A hard
to put down, meticulously researched must-read.”

—Juliet Schor, author of *True Wealth*
[image: Purchase Digital
Disconnect]<http://illinois.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=29b585612701bd6527ce0b04c&id=dffecfa88e&e=ba041cf400>

“Over the past 20 years, the world has experienced a profound
communications revolution delivered by the internet as well as an equally
profound rise in economic inequality and instability delivered by
neoliberal capitalism. *Digital Disconnect* explores the connections
between these epoch-defining trends with clarity, depth, originality and
verve."

—Robert Pollin, Professor of Economics and Co-Director, Political Economy
Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Purchase on Amazon<http://illinois.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=29b585612701bd6527ce0b04c&id=a64ee5212c&e=ba041cf400>|
Powell's<http://illinois.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=29b585612701bd6527ce0b04c&id=368c6b36df&e=ba041cf400>

Dear friend or acquaintance of Bob McChesney,

I am writing you to tell you about my new book on the Internet that may
interest you. It is titled *Digital Disconnect: How Capitalism is Turning
the Internet Away from
Democracy*<http://illinois.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=29b585612701bd6527ce0b04c&id=05cd2fcf7d&e=ba041cf400>.
The book is a political economic examination of the digital revolution
based upon 15 years of research. The book provides considerable detail but
also an overarching analysis and argument, so it is intended for anyone
concerned with the Internet. It is the capstone of my
career<http://illinois.us6.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=29b585612701bd6527ce0b04c&id=65e94a6ad0&e=ba041cf400>
.

Michael Delli Carpini, Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication at
the University of Pennsylvania, said: “Digital Disconnect makes a
convincing case that one can only understand the Internet and related
communication technologies through the lens of political economy, and that
the capitalist political economy in which they are currently embedded in
the United States is anathema to a truly democratic information
environment.”

The book includes the following:

   - how the standard dichotomy of views on the Internet as “celebratory”
   or skeptical” have important and necessary insights, but they almost all
   fail to factor in or appreciate the importance of capitalism as the driving
   force, as well as the problems capitalism can create for democratic values
   and practices
   - a fresh look at  the noncommercial origins of the Internet, and the
   shadowy process whereby it was converted into an engine for commercialism
   - how the dinosaur industries of telecommunication and entertainment
   media have managed to survive and even prosper in the Internet era by their
   domination of the corrupt policymaking process
   - how the Internet, once seen as an engine of economic competition, has
   become arguably the greatest generator of economic monopoly in history,
   with troubling implications for both the economy and political democracy;
   the dominant Internet firms now comprise nearly one-half of the 30 largest
   publicly traded corporations  in the United States, based on market value
   - how advertising has been radically transformed online such that
   traditional notions of privacy have been eliminated, and the traditional
   support for media content advertising once provided is disappearing
   - how the national security state has surveillance powers over private
   citizens that were unimaginable a generation ago and are inimical to the
   foundations of a free society
   - how the Internet has assisted in destroying journalism as it has been
   practiced for the past century, and offers no hope on its own of
   rejuvenating journalism as a credible broad-based democratic institution;
   this chapter updates the research I did with John Nichols in 2010’s
   multiple-award-winning *Death and Life of American
Journalism*<http://illinois.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=29b585612701bd6527ce0b04c&id=73e26cad7e&e=ba041cf400>(Nation
Books)
   - how a series of crucial policy debates in the next decade will go a
   long way toward determining the course of the Internet and the course of
   society.

This book is written with the aim of helping scholars and citizens be
informed participants, and to see that the revolutionary democratic
potential of the digital revolution be realized.

After reading the book, Eric Alterman of *The Nation* and Brooklyn College
wrote: “Once again, McChesney stands at the crossroads of media dysfunction
and the denial of democracy, illuminating the complex issues involved and
identifying a path forward to try to repair the damage. Here's hoping the
rest of us have the good sense to listen this time.”

Matthew Rothschild, editor of *The Progressive*, wrote: “With a panoramic
sweep and profound insights, McChesney rings the alarm bells, showing
clearly how capitalism is swallowing up the promise of the Internet. No one
knows this field better than McChesney, and with this book, he has reached
the pinnacle.”

Thank you for your consideration,

Bob McChesney

*Why did I get this?*<http://illinois.us6.list-manage1.com/about?u=29b585612701bd6527ce0b04c&id=256dee86ee&e=ba041cf400&c=ac364d9a7d>|
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You are receiving this email because we've been in contact over the years.
I use this list solely for announcements of my books so emails are very
infrequent (no more than two or three a year). I apologize for the
impersonal nature of this message, but my email list grew too large for me
to manage. If you wish to communicate with me personally please email me at
rwmcchesney at gmail.com.
Robert W. McChesney
702 South Wright Street
3001 Lincoln Hall
Urbana, IL 61801

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Robert W. McChesney · 702 South Wright Street · 3001 Lincoln Hall · Urbana,
IL 61801

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