Media and New Capitalism in the Digital Age: The Spirit of Networks Eran Fisher This book explores the new terrain of network capitalism through the transformations of the discourse on technology. Rather than viewing technology discourse as either a true or false reflection of reality, Fisher evaluates the ideological role that technology discourse plays in the legitimation of a new form of capitalism. Based on an extensive empirical analysis, the book argues that contemporary technology discourse promises more individual empowerment through network technology and legitimates more privatized and flexible constellations of economic life. This signals a new trade-off in the political culture of capitalism, from a legitimation discourse that emphasizes the capacity of technology to bring about social emancipation to one that focuses on the capacity of technology to bring about individual emancipation through creativity and democratization. Contrary to the prevailing assumption that sees network technology as prevailing assumption that sees network technology as overcoming the rigidity and pitfalls of a stifling, Fordist capitalism, the book offers a theoretical framework which sees contemporary technology discourse as an ideology that legitimates the economic, social, and political arrangements of the new, post-Fordist capitalism. Eran Fischer is Lecturer at the College of Management – Academic Studies at the Interdisciplinary Center in Israel. He completed his PhD in the Department of Sociology at the New School for Social Research in New York in 2008. His work on critical social theory, technology, and capitalism has appeared in the European Journal of Social Theory, Fast Capitalism, and Working USA: The Journal of Labor and Society.