The Political Mapping of Cyberspace

by Professor Jeremy W Crampton Dr

This book is about the politics of cyberspace. It shows that cyberspace is no mere virtual reality but a rich geography of practices and power relations.

Genres: Nonfiction

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the particulars are dated. A few of the examples in the book draw completely irrelevant conclusions in light of the contemporary political and technical situation. And the author doesn't always do everything he can to bring the theory back to actual practices. However, I enjoyed this book. The exploration of Foucault in light of Heidegger's being-in-the-world was exceptional. I think the most valuable thing I will be taking away from the book is actually completely unrelated to cyberspace per se. Crampton's general formulation of problematization as the occasion for moving from the "ontic" to the"ontological" is helpful for folks who think critically in any domain.

This book, like so many others of its ilk, loses so many points for an artificially inflated style. Sometimes the jargon is warranted. Often it is not. The unnecessary theory-speak discredits the passages where it is necessary.

He provides some great frameworks for thinking about authentication, confession, parrhesia and power dynamics. And the central reiteration of cartography as a political (in the corporate and political sense of the word) practice was powerful.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of potential leads for references and resources but sometimes the book just made me want to scream.