Addressing the World : National Identity and Internet Country Code Domains

Few people think of an Internet domain name like .us or .in as anything other than an address - when, in fact, it often serves as a roadmap to national identities and priorities. This text looks behind eleven of the 240 global domain names, from the US and Australia to Moldova and East Timor.

Few people think of an Internet domain name like .us or .in as anything other than an address—when, in fact, it often serves as a roadmap to national identities and priorities. Addressing the World looks behind eleven of the 240 global domain names, from the United States and Australia to Moldova and East Timor, highlighting both the technology and the larger social constructs that make each distinct. Stories and first-person accounts by activists, journalists, Internet administrators, lawyers, and academics examine the sociological, historical, political, and technological development of Internet country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). Addressing the World reveals that technology is not just science and domain names are not just practical—they are an entryway into cultural education and understanding. Visit the author''s website for additional information, including chapter abstracts and pictures and bios of all contributors.