"To conclude, it is helpful to consider the work reviewed here under the headings provided by Beetham (2002)'s definition of democracy: popular control, and political equality. With respect to popular control, it seems to be the case that the Internet facilitates a "way in" for citizens in a democra ... cy to aquire information about, engage with, and even influence the key institutions that make up a democratic polity [...] For political equality, the prospects are a little less bright. There is abundance of research to suggest that the Internet may actually reinforce the disadvantages of lower income and low levels of education and these demographics may overtake age as the most important demographic for understanding Internet use." (Conclusion) more

"Internet Studies has been one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding interdisciplinary fields to emerge over the last decade. The Oxford Handbook of Internet Studies has been designed to provide a resource in this area, bringing together scholarly perspectives on how the Internet has been studie ... d and how the research agenda should be pursued in the future. The book aims to focus on Internet Studies as an emerging field, each chapter seeking to provide a synthesis and critical assessment of the research in a particular area. Topics covered include social perspectives on the technology of the Internet; the Internet's role in everyday life and work; implications for communication, power, and influence; and the governance and regulation of the Internet. The book aims not only to help to strengthen research on the key questions, but also to shape research, policy, and practice across many disciplines that are finding the Internet and its political, economic, cultural, and other societal implications increasingly central to their own key areas of inquiry." (Publisher description) more