ABSTRACT

The growth of the Internet over the past seven years in advanced democratic countries has prompted widespread speculation regarding its use as a means of political communication. The Internet, as the most popular flagbearer for this new wave of ICTs (information communications technologies), has received a great deal of attention for its potential as a democracy-enhancing information and communications channel. However, as Internet diffusion continues to spread throughout the world, we are becoming increasingly aware that its use varies widely in different social, cultural, and political environments.