Technology and the Common Good

Allen Batteau is a cultural anthropologist, Professor at Wayne State University's Department of Anthropology, and former director of the University's Institute for Information Technology and Culture. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the US Air Force, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, and numerous other corporate and international bodies. He is a certified private pilot, and co-author (with Jing Hyung-Sing) of Dragon in the Cockpit (Routledge, 2015), a study of cultural issues in aviation safety.

“This is a thoughtful and well-written exploration of the role of technology in facilitating or deterring public welfare in democratic societies … Drawing on his remarkably diverse professional experience, the author supports this contention with numerous persuasive examples … I wish it could be read by every STEM student.” • Bryan Pfaffenberger, University of Virginia“It is a tour de force in the field of technology studies that is the capstone of this accomplished scholar’s work over his career.” • Anita Puckett, Virginia Tech

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgementsObservationsIntroductionChapter 1. Worlds Without TechnologyChapter 2. Public and Private Goods in a Liberal SocietyChapter 3. Technology and the CommonsChapter 4. Beyond the Traditional CommonsChapter 5. Public Goods and Institutions in CyberspaceChapter 6. Democratic VistasChapter 7. Building Institutions for a Technological WorldConclusion: Reclaiming the CommonsReferencesIndex