Advanced Introduction to Digital Society

In this precisely argued, expansive book, Castells demonstrates once again his deep understanding of the complex relationships between technology, power, and inequality. This is essential reading not only for those who study the digital world, but for all who rely on it, either knowingly or not. A must-read! -- Sarah Banet-Weiser, Walter H. Annenberg Dean, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania Over four decades, Manuel Castells has analyzed the evolving technical, economic, social, power, and moral aspects of the information society. His new book Advanced Introduction to Digital Society is the most important of these efforts because of the manifest challenges currently facing society. As always, Castells includes extensive data and results of professional quality, but avoids jargon. Rather than focusing on the fake issue of super-human intelligence, the book is concerned with the real prospect of diminishing personal freedom and quality of life. In addition to the general discussion, there are chapters that analyze specific domains including education, digital divides, social movements, political polarization, and war. The book is required reading for anyone who aspires to understand, and hopefully influence, the alignment of computational systems and power structures with human values. -- Jerome Feldman, Emeritus Professor of Computer Science and Cognitive Science, and Founding Director of the International Computer Science Institute, University of California, Berkeley As usual, Manuel Castells has given us a comprehensive analytical framework to understand where we are in the digitalization of our societies. The beauty of this book is that it both raises so many interesting questions and provides a launching pad for us to begin to answer them. -- Martin Carnoy, Lemann Foundation Professor of Education and Economics, Stanford University

Manuel Castells, Wallis Annenberg Chair in Communication Technology and Society, University of Southern California, US

Contents: 1 Introduction: a digital society 2 We communicate, therefore we are 3 End of privacy? The Surveillance State and informational capitalism 4 The digitalization of financial markets: from derivatives to cryptocurrencies 5 Teleworking and the networked metropolis 6 Human learning, computer learning, AI learning 7 Digital divides: territory, gender, age, class, ethnicity, cultures 8 Networked social movements 9 Social media and political polarization 10 War and peace in the time of digital machines 11 Conclusion: the digital society and the network society