I have been spending the week keeping quite busy and engaged teaching a small seminar at the University of Konstanz, Germany. The seminar is entitled ‘Politics and Policy of the Internet’ and my 12 students are masters students in their faculty of politics and public administration. The first photo is of a subset of the class during one of our breaks.
Preparing for, and giving the course, has been very useful in moving me along in completing a 4 volume set of readings for Routledge, entitled ‘Politics and the Internet’. Also it has been refreshing to hear the discussion of the readings. I’m impressed by the high standards the students have in the methodological rigor and argumentation of the various readings – excellent critics, but also in their ability to see the contributions of the work they review. The discussion of particular contemporary issues and cases has been the most interesting aspect, and I was pleased to be able to introduce the students to some of the ancient history of tele-democracy around interactive cable, videotex, and bulletin board systems. Sometimes it is useful to be older.
Alex, you made my trip all the more worthwhile. Thanks for your note, Bill
Dear Prof. Dutton, thank you and all participants for the great seminar “Politics and Policy of the Internet”. Really loved the international perspective of it. Great how you adapted so fast to the infrastructure and structure at the University of Konstanz. I would love to have the opportunity of taking one of your seminars again. I assure you that the weather is not always so inconvincing to come back to Konstanz again:). Hope you traveled home safely. Best regards Alex