COMS2700 Media and Communication Review 2022

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COMS2700

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Book Review Essay
Introduction
The term globalization can be broadly defined in two ways: a process of integration of
the world economy and expansion of trade and communication across national borders. Three
major manifestations can be seen in globalization phenomenon including international
investment, international trade and international finance (Gunek). However, it can be argued
that globalization includes much more than economic expansion and organization of
activities beyond the political boundaries of countries. More succinctly, it can be described as
a process which contributes to enhancing economic interdependence, openness and
deepening of economic integration within the world economy (Kaul). It can be noted that
globalization does not to erase cultural differences or lead towards a homogenized global
culture. As there are common dimensions to force and process globalization, several
communities have made their choices to process globalization forces by resisting, adapting
and subscribing to it. Since globalization has developed immensely since past few centuries,
it became essential that upcoming generations are made aware of globalization implications
and how to respond to it. In this light, this paper intends to review three books which focuses
on the historical development of globalization and how it impacts countries and different
industries. The book review essay will summarise the main points from the books and
recommend reasons why ‘Communicating India’s Soft Power: Buddha to Bollywood’ by
Daya Kishan Thussu must be selected by the class.
A book by Shawn M. Powers and Michael Jablonski, ‘The Real Cyber War. The
political economy of Internet freedom’ makes a discussion revolving around the role of
media and internet in the society and how it dominates the world by providing cybersecurity,

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internet freedom, surveillance, Edward Snowden and cyberwar. Beyond the rhetoric
cyberwar, an everlasting state-centred battle continues to grow which intends to control data
and information resources. The authors conceptualise the real-world cyberwar and
demonstrate them as utilization of digital technology for fulfilling geopolitical purpose such
as initialising covert operations against other states electronic media. More significantly, the
ways the internet is being used today can influence military and economic agendas too. Other
than critiquing globalization impacts in media and world politics, the authors identify
emerging information technologies and democratic values behind it (Powers and Jablonski
). The cyberwar emphasises more on geopolitical, economic and political factors which in
turn drives internet freedom policies. For example, the emerging doctrine of the U.S. State
Department which supports universal freedom to connect digitally. The state claims that to
build a universal internet, significant efforts must be provided by political, social and
Western legal communities so that social preferences are driven by geopolitical and economic
motivations instead of democratic and humanitarian ideologies that can hinder policy
discourse. Moreover, the movement initialising freedom to connect is seen intertwined with
cross border impacts which structure global society in a way that Western cultures,
government, economies and American society is developed (Powers and Jablonski ).
It can be said that Powers and Jablonski fills the gap between time and analyses made
on the internet after Snowden. Every chapter in the book makes a comprehensive analysis to
observe and present the strategic moves made by internet and information systems to take
over the complex industrial powers through the web. To do such, the authors mainly focus
upon cyberwar and defines it as “the utilization of digital networks for geopolitical purposes”
besides analysing it from political and economic lenses (Powers and Jablonski ). The
author claims that cyberwar can take many forms and can move beyond internet governance
including the introduction of specific policies. However, the book mainly focusses upon U.S