Steve Jones
This article examines the history and future prospects of the formation of
Internet Studies. It is argued that although a traditional field or disciplinary
structure is not yet in place the current interdisciplinary aggregations may
have the makings of institutionalized academic units. Through comparison with
the institutionalization of other interdisiciplinary areas of study (primarily
that of communication and cultural studies) an argument is made for the need
to create a firm intellectual foundation on which an Internet Studies can be
built. Such a foundation should not only include sufficient and clear understanding
of cognate fields but also include a foregrounding of power (as theoretical
construct and practice) as a means of engaging the field in the world.