Reception The Wealth of Networks

1 reception

1.1 writing style
1.2 physical hardware , infrastructure
1.3 optimism
1.4 future of information policy , network development

reception

2011-08 haifa wikimania yochai benkler dscf6547

when benkler’s wealth of networks released in 2006, lawrence lessig announced release of book on blog, stating: “this is—by far—the important , powerful book written in fields matter me in last ten years. if there 1 book read year, should this.” wealth of networks has been reviewed many other blogs in addition lessig blog, including rough type, dreams in digital, denoer, , reading media under tree. book has been reviewed in german law journal , independent review. book reviews of wealth of networks have been featured several news publications, including financial times, times, , new statesmen. in addition book reviews, interviews yochai benkler wealth of networks have been conducted , published opendemocracy.net, openbusiness.cc, , public knowledge, , benkler invited give lecture based on wealth of networks @ center american progress on may 31, 2006.

less month after release in 2006, wealth of networks became focus of intense read , review seminar on famous political blog crooked timber. after reading book, 6 well-respected scholars (several of them founding members of crookedtimbre.org) posted reactions book, , @ end of seminar, yochai benkler given opportunity respond comments.

writing style

in terms of benkler s writing style, criticism on crooked timber targeted 2 main points: 1) book written in style dense average reader, , 2) attempts cover many topics. dan hunter points out in review titled “a general theory of information policy”, wealth of networks attempt articulate underlying, grander “whole” ties myriad issues involved in information policy , internet. hunter states: benkler provides close general theory of information policy networked age begins explain how should think topics different spectrum policy, copyright, user-generated content, network neutrality…well, list pretty encompasses questions within internet law , policy. hunter’s main criticism of book is academically dense average reader, , reliant on assuming reader familiar several internet organizations , websites, such wikipedia, paypal, , slashdot. hunter later states:

i’m worried many of peer-producers—the blog writers, open source software gurus, amateurs create love of it; in short people book written about—will pick work in hope of understanding how creativity fits grand scheme of innovation, , role in amateur production sphere promises change way view information goods within society. , may not past introduction.

physical hardware , infrastructure

another criticism of benkler’s theory focus given potential of peer-production , innovation in networked information economy, little no attention spent addressing issues related physical hardware required keep network benkler’s theories rely on , running. in review of book siva vaidhyanathan, benkler’s “soft technological determinism” brought under fire. vaidhyanathan states:

1 issue remains underwritten in text: story of technology itself. throughout text, there seems givenness technology. tcp/ip there. cisco’s notorious discriminating servers, source of tension on end of network neutrality, appear…. sense particular technologies malleable, adaptable, contingent, , socially shaped. no account of developer’s wishes or users’ adaptions. cursory accounts of conflicts on future of these technologies have unleashed (to choose loaded term) creativity.

benkler addressed criticism in response vaidhyanathan’s review, conceding perhaps more attention physical elements of networked information economy have been given:

[vaidhyanathan’s] complaint ... wrote book how dynamics of technology, society, economy, , law intersect fundamentally alter how information, knowledge, , culture produced, rather book dynamics of how technology component got is, , how may or may not change given present pressures ... not every book can everything. perhaps vaidhyanathan correct book offers broad canvass on networked information environment needs chapter on technology itself: originates , dynamics , pressures, historically , today, led past , affect future.

in review of book ben peters, similar sentiment vaidhyanathan’s criticism expressed: “it may account massive information infrastructure costs, fiber optic cables, wifi, , laptops benkler s optimism depends upon in international development scene.” in independent review: journal of political economy, peter g. klein stated:

although information cannot “owned,” tangible media in information embedded , transmitted scarce economic goods. information may yearn “free,” cables, switches, routers, disk drives, microprocessors, , yearn owned. such innovations not spring nowhere; creations of profit-seeking entrepreneurs consumers or other entrepreneurs purchase use see fit.

optimism

derek belt, reviewed book on blog titled “dreaming in digital”, targeted benkler s optimism main point of criticism, suggesting benkler’s optimism rooted in possible in future, neglecting take consideration position in society find ourselves in @ present time in relation information policy. states:

unwavering belief in greater offers hope future fails adequately address present, leaving readers wonder have said prospects of decade in industrial information economy, backed powerful lobbyists , defiant legislative activity, holds of cards. our future cheery then?

in contrast these attacks on benkler’s optimism, review debora halbert suggested that:

although pro-technology, regarding internet, benkler not techno-utopianist. argues techno-utopianists see internet perfect public platform incorrect, technophobes believe internet leads increasing fragmentation , alienation. seeks strike middle ground, arguing industrial media model of central control on mass communication fits nicely authoritarian structures.

jack balkin, participant on in crooked timber read , review took similar stance in interpretation of benkler’s optimism, stating:

benkler’s book wavers between optimistic description of digitally networked economy has produced , produce , warning these bounties squandered if legal regime goes in wrong direction…as benkler might wish features of digitally networked environment , information economics lead inevitably toward blessed world of peer production, understands political economy of information production has repeatedly pushed law along different path. benkler shows vibrant world moving toward , might yet achieve; realize it.

the wealth of networks has been criticized technological determinism. david m. berry contends benkler’s work builds on rather shaky binary distinction between proprietary industrial forms of economic , technological structure , non-proprietary peer-production models . berry challenges benkler’s assumptions network fosters non-proprietary models , latter sounder , ethically preferable former model. according berry, benkler fails recognize should network forms of organization happen wealth generating, co-opted mainstream ‘industrial’ ways of production. paraphrase steve jobs, corporate world may provide peer-production rest of us. johan söderberg links benkler s optimism towards networked modes of production larger current of thought generated hacker community. drawing on serge proulx work, söderberg asserts such narrative, neoliberal in origin, recomposes discussion on information society in problematic way: fantasy of frictionless market in information transformed vision of information-sharing society .

the future of information policy , network development

although wealth of networks has been target of pointed criticism, vast majority of published reviews emphatic fact despite criticisms, wealth of networks incredibly important book, , brings table many issues pertinent future of information policy , network development. benkler credited bringing forth new perspectives related social production, role of commons, how society using , interacting internet, , how internet transforming way people interact, create, , exchange goods , information. siva vaidhyanathan stated in opening of review, “there no better place turn account of processes of creativity , commerce relating digital networks , work people them.” more specifically, wealth of networks hailed incredibly important piece of writing advocating greater protection of cultural commons , open access models on internet. german law review, james brink wrote:

wealth of networks worthwhile outward- , forward-looking manifesto information infrastructure has come of age. @ same time, internet advocates take benkler’s lessons in history of industrial information economy heart, , work hard fulfill vision of true commons-based , nonproprietary ecology within networked information economy.




^ lessig, lawrence (15 april 2006). benkler s book out . lessig (blog). 
^ calacanis s wallet , web 2.0 dream . july 2006. 
^ belt, derek (16 november 2009). book review: yochai benkler s wealth of networks . 
^ 07.29.07 benkler: wealth . 29 july 2007. 
^ networked information economy . 29 july 2007. 
^ brink, james (2006). book review - yochai benkler, wealth of networks: how social production transforms markets , freedom (2006) . german law review. 17: 862. 
^ klein, peter g. (2009). wealth of networks: how social production transforms markets , freedom . independent review. winter: 515. 
^ ahlert, christina; yochai benkler (26 april 2006). mining wealth of networks yochai benkler . opendemocracy. 
^ wealth of networks . openbusiness. 24 april 2006. 
^ sohn, gigi (3 october 2006). wealth of networks . public knowledge. 
^ yochai benkler: wealth of networks . internet archive. 
^ hunter, dan (30 may 2006). general theory of information policy . crooked timber (blog). 
^ vaidhyanathan, siva; benkler, yochai (30 may 2006). dialectic of technology . crooked timbre (blog). 
^ peters, ben (18 march 2008). anna schwartz on benkler s wealth of networks . working notes: ben peters’ work blog. 
^ klein, peter g. (2009). wealth of networks: how social production transforms markets , freedoms . independent review: journal of political economy. 13: 515. 
^ halbert, debra (august 2006). wealth of networks: how social productions transforms markets , freedoms, yochai benkler . law , politics book review. 16: 573–574. 
^ berry, david m, (2008) poverty of networks . theory, culture & society 25(7–8): 364–372
^ berry, 2008: 369
^ söderberg, johan (2013). determining social change: role of technological determinism in collective action framing of hackers . new media & society 15(8): 1277–1293