The Web and Conflict Theory
David H. Wilkinson

©1997

"Enlighten the people generally and tyranny and oppresions of body and mind
              will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of the day". Thomas Jefferson 
     The Internet is a global communications, data transmission system orginally created for
 military and research use, however the impetus was on a military application in the event 
of nuclear war.  Last year the National Science Foundation, a federally funded entity turned
 over the Net to the public domain and no longer provides funding for the Net's existence.
The Net is now a freestanding system.  Current estimates project that over 40 million people
 currently use the Net with predictions that over 2000 million people will be online by 1999 
(Wichita Eagle).  In the United States there are 5.6 million computers connected to the Internet
and 3.8 million computers online outside of the United States.  The Internet is the largest
"machine" ever constructed by carbon based units inhabiting the third rock from the sun.
     Governments worldwide are interconnected to the Internet with over 160 nations online in
 one form or another.  The rate of data transmission is growing exponentially.  The Net works
 as amachine but not independent of human interaction which is necessary to create system
 function in which human-machine-human interface creates the cyborgnet realities.  The 
Internet is an anarchial global communication-data transmission system which is under 
the authority of citizens of the Net.  These Netziens create subcultural locales in which 
their particular interests are pursued.  These groups are not under the command and control
 of beauracratic structures. In this way the Net is a self-governing, self-mediating cyborgian
 (human-machine) entity; fluid and dynamic.  The Federal Communications Commission has admitted
 that it does not have the ability to govern and regulate the structure, function or content 
of the Net.  This is an ironic twist since the Net was orginally created by the Department of 
Defense.  However, this is exactly the way in which the Net is supposed to function and 
is its' strength.


THE NET IS A GLOBAL ANARCHIAL COMMUNICATION DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WHICH SUBVERTS
NATION-STATE BOUNDARIES AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL INFORMATION DISSEMINATION SYSTEMS. 
THIS IS CREATING NEW MODES AND METHODS OF POWER UTILIZATION AND IS USED BY GROUPS 
AS A TOOL TO CREATE, ORGANIZE, UTILIZE,AND DIRECT GROUPS TO AFFECT THE AUTHORITY 
STRUCTURES OF SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE.


    
     Authority structures are influenced by groups trying to gain access to them in order 
to direct and control the allocation of resources.  Groups with the most resources are able
to organize and influence this allocation and retain hegomony over resources distributed and
controlled by the authority structure.  This monopolization and control over resources is 
strengthened and enhanced as groups in power tend to stay in power by controlling the balance
of power in resource allocation.  An example of this process occured in the debate in the
United States over the creation of a National Health Care System.  The already pregnant with
power entities such as insurance comglomerates, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and 
medical professions were able to, because of previously accumulated resources and networking
capabilities, control the discourse around the issue of health care and affect the outcome
of legislation, or the lack therof in their favor.  Those without access to resources,
such as the uninsured who would have benefitted most from changes in the status quo of 
health care were unable to affect this debate in their favor.  The debate over health care
reflected the way in which groups in power are able to retain hegemony over discourse in 
order to frame discussions which has the affect of creating public sentiments in their favor
as witnessed in the health care debate.