History of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) : transnational techno-diplomacy from the telegraph to the Internet /
Information and communication technologies are networked. Exchanging information betweentwo points in a network requires both the definition of what kind of information is to beexchanged (standardization) and the definition of rules and procedures of how this informationis produced, circulated, and...
| Corporate Authors: | , , |
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| Other Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Berlin ; Boston :
De Gruyter Oldenbourg,
[2020]
München ; Wien : [2020] |
| Series: | Innovation and diplomacy in modern Europe ;
1 Innovation and diplomacy in modern Europe ; v. 1 |
| Subjects: |
| Summary: | Information and communication technologies are networked. Exchanging information betweentwo points in a network requires both the definition of what kind of information is to beexchanged (standardization) and the definition of rules and procedures of how this informationis produced, circulated, and received (regulation). As such, processes of standardization (thenegotiation and definition of technical standards) and regimes of regulation (theirimplementation and control by a legally and/or politically recognized institution) are at theheart of techno-political diplomacy, because they involve a multitude of actors (technical,economic, and political) and arenas (platforms of negotiation) on national, international, andtransnational levels. As the term techno-diplomacy suggests, these processes are characterizedby strategic actions, and tactical maneuvers among all actors involved and generally require ahigh degree of both technical knowledge and diplomatic skills by the negotiating parties. This book aims at studying the role of one specific actor in the field of standardization andregulation of information and communication technologies, the InternationalTelecommunication Union from its origins in the mid-19th century to nowadays. In this technodiplomatic game, ITU has been indeed an actor and had a key-role in different realms such asregulations of tariffs, technological standardization and homogeneity, establishment of sharednorms, promotion and support of projects and studies for example in developing countries This book focuses on the history of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), from its origins in the mid-19th century to nowadays. ITU was the first international organization ever and still plays a crucial role in managing global telecommunications today. Putting together some of the most relevant scholars in the field of transnational communications, the book covers the history of ITU from 1865 to digital times in a truly global perspective, taking into account several technologies like the telegraph, the telephone, cables, wireless, radio, television, satellites, mobile phone, the internet and others. The main goal is to identify the long-term strategies of regulation and the techno-diplomatic manoeuvres taken inside ITU, from convincing the majority of the nations to establish the official seat of the Telegraph Union bureau in Switzerland in the 1860s, to contrasting the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance (supported by US and ICANN). History of the International Telecommunication Union is a trans-disciplinary text and can be interesting for scholars and students in the fields of telecommunications, media, international organizations, transnational communication, diplomacy, political economy of communication, STS, and others. It has the ambition to become a reference point in the history of ITU and, at the same time, just the fi rst comprehensive step towards a longer, inter-technological, political and cultural history of transnational communications to be written in the future |
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| Item Description: | Includes index |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource ( VI, 354 p..) : 1 online resource ( VI, 354 p..) 1 online resource (VI, 354 p.) 1 online resource (VI, 354 pages) 1 online resource (vi, 353 pages) : illustrations |
| Format: | Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index |
| ISBN: | 3-11-066970-6 3110669706 (electronic bk.) 3110669706 3110669773 9783110669701 (electronic bk.) 9783110669701 9783110669770 |
| Access: | ProQuest Non-Linear Lending Restricted for use by site license Restricted for use by site license. |