ABSTRACT
This chapter examines normative order, the most comprehensive of all social institutions. Normative order consists of the shared values that account for the vast uniformity of human behaviors. Many aspects of the normative order are formally stipulated in legislation, judicial codes, standard operating procedures, job descriptions, and organizational rules and regulations. Normative order provides another lens for examining the global conflicts raging today. The first theoretical perspective of normative order to be discussed in the context of the effect of information communication technologies (ICTs) is the division of labor. The division of labor has traditionally resulted in many social inequalities reflected in the dimensions of race, gender, and age. ICTs are exerting considerable influence in three major areas of political processes: voting, service delivery, and political action groups. The final assessment of the role played by the social networks awaits future research. However, it does seem clear that social networks have the potential to cause rapid and dramatic political change.
