internet-governance

Chapter 2 critiques the common misconceptions about 'the Internet' as a monolithic entity and explores the complexities and nuances of its infrastructure, governance, and cultural impact. It discusses the challenges of regulation, the evolution of network architecture, and the socio-political dynamics shaping the Internet's future, emphasizing the need to move beyond simplistic narratives and embrace more sophisticated frameworks for understanding and managing digital networks.

In this chapter, Benjie is a college student at USC studying computer science and engineering, grappling with his complex feelings about his absent mother through the lens of a Southeast Asian cinema class. He becomes fascinated with Jon Postel, a foundational figure in internet governance, and after hacking Postel's system as a way to connect, he becomes involved in the unfolding struggle over control of the Domain Name System (DNS), culminating in Postel's brief assertion of authority and eventual death. Alongside this, Benjie explores Filipino literature and activism, deepening his engagement with cultural and political identity.

This chapter is the acknowledgments section of Mark Doten's novel Trump Sky Alpha, where the author expresses gratitude to editors, family, friends, and colleagues who contributed to the book's development. It also lists influential books and resources that informed the novel's themes, particularly around internet governance, cyberculture, and geopolitical aesthetics. Additionally, it references cultural works that inspired aspects of the novel.

Chapter 11 details Vladimir Putin's strategic efforts to assert Russia's control over the Internet both domestically and internationally, driven by deep suspicions of American dominance and influence. It traces the careers of key Russian officials like Andrey Krutskikh and Vladislav Sherstyuk, who shaped Russia's information security doctrine and pushed for international agreements to regulate cyberspace, emphasizing control, censorship, and information warfare. Despite repeated attempts to engage the United States in cyber arms control and Internet governance treaties, Russia's proposals were largely rebuffed, reinforcing a growing cyber rivalry.

Chapter 11 details Russia's strategic efforts under Putin to assert influence over international internet governance and cybersecurity norms, particularly through the United Nations and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It chronicles Russia's proposals for increased state control over cyberspace, its opposition to Western-led internet freedom initiatives, and the diplomatic clashes at global conferences such as WCIT 2012. The chapter also highlights Russia's framing of the internet as a domain of geopolitical contestation, including accusations of Western cyber aggression and calls for a military-free internet zone.