Internet Exercises


1			A key component in the globalization of the world economy involves the transfer of intellectual material across borders. Access to new ideas and information is an important means of development in most economies. Today, thanks to the Internet, the flow of information is much easier; intellectual ideas and property can be exchanged across borders almost instantaneously. Except perhaps in China where government officials block access not only to individual web sites, but to entire search engines. While China's leaders recognize the value of the Internet as a tool for building economic competitiveness and technology capabilities, they have established what is known as the Great Firewall to filter what Chinese citizens can read on the Web, and effectively maintain the Communist Party's grip on power. Discuss how China's limitations on free access to the Internet influence the country's ability to achieve meaningful economic progress. The CEO of AltaVista, one of the search engines banned by the Chinese government, noted that "censorship is not compatible with his vision of free global access to information" and has stated that he will not screen his site's content to cater to Chinese officials. Yahoo Inc.'s Chinese portal in contrast has pledged to censor itself. Which position would you support? Why? Source: "The Great Firewall of China" Business week, 9/23/02, p. 58.




2			For Iraqis, the Internet has meant an end to the isolation imposed by Iraq's government. While Iraq's rulers still maintain some control over site accessibility, particularly those sites deemed "contradictory to Islamic law", the new access has brought a sense of freedom to citizens who now have a window to the world. Home Internet use is still prohibitively expensive with annual subscriptions for private access costing about $750, out of range for the average citizen who makes about $120 a year. However, Internet cafés are springing up facilitating access for many. Despite their more open position toward the Internet, Iraqi government officials still maintain bans on satellite television and fax machines for private users, and also foreign language newspapers and magazines effectively creating a country that is cut-off from the rest of the world. Why has the Iraqi government permitted use of the Internet, yet continued its bans on other, more traditional sources of information? Compare the situation in Iraq to the situation in China (see exercise 3 above). How do the two countries differ in their outlook toward economic development and technology? Will, and if so how, the countries' limitations on Internet access affect one country's future more than other? Source: "Internet is Latest Craze In Iraq, But With Limits," Beacon Journal, 11/7/02, p. A8.

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