Negotiating the Net in Africa: The Politics of Internet Diffusion

Why do national patterns of Internet expansion differ so greatly throughout Africa? To what extent do politics trump technology? Who are the "information champions" in the various African states? Addressing these and related questions, Negotiating the Net in Africa explores the politics, economics, and technology of Internet diffusion across the continent. The "Negotiating the Net" framework is applied consistently to chapters on Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tanzania, allowing a rich, comparative analysis based on in-country research and extensive interviews with key stakeholders. Three broader chapters reflect a cross-cutting perspective. The result is a comprehensive discussion that, while dealing specifically with Africa, is also highly relevant to other regions in the developing world.