Politics, Nation and Community in the age of Network

Introduction
On internet, it is considered to collect information from the whole world. Per internet, it is possible to read newspaper which published from all over the world, listen to broadcasting on line and watch programs, even and read official articles through government website, receive some information per internet forum, email and blogs. (Blog Survey) Moreover, it is convenient to participate in and publish own views at any time. It is generally accepted that network is the tool to broken limitation of societies and spaces. (Jennings etc. 1996) It is very significant on news transmitting and formation of public opinions and is regarded to play a special role in process of transmitting.
The uses of the internet in terms of politics
It is obvious that there are some advantages of internet transmitting in the process of building of national image. (James etc. 2005) Building of national image is considered to be a systems engineering which is depended on image of government and leaders. There is a good case: www. Whitehouse.gov. in this website, there are three aspects. Firstly, it is used to publish activities in the government including topics like Iraq matters, news, appointments, institutes and speeches. Secondly, there are information about parties and presidents including president and his wife, vice president and his wife, and council of ministers and policies. In addition, there are some ways how to contact the White House, such as Email, address, telephone etc. (www.whilehouse.gov)
Nowadays, electronic government has been acted as a foundation which prior to development in the world. (James Curran, Michael Gurevitch. 2005) For example, since 80s of 20th century, in Singapore, electronic government has been developed and now it is deemed to be one of the most developed countries on electronic government. It is possible to finish whatever intensions, such as license for new motorcycle, application for tax etc. (www.gov.sg) At the same time, it is necessary to recognize that network is also undemanding to be a tool to control the public for politicians. (Renckstorf etc. 1995)
Nation in the age of networks
With improvement of informationization and popularization of its application, lots of information is considered to get together on network. (Howard Tumber. 2000) Therefore, it is possible to support for social living and production by network in the world. Accordingly, it will be acted as a key place for globalization and good for development progress of economic globalization.
Thomas Friedman, who wrote the World is Flat, pointed out that flat world is the new trend of globalization. Its foundational reason could come down to three convergences. (Thomas Friedman, 2002) First of all, it is convergence of market between the East and the West. Then it is convergence of IT revolution and transformation of production mode. Finally, it is the most important convergence of the ten factors on network. Moreover, there are some representations of new communication technology, such as blog, research engine, upload, software.
In addition, In the process of development of ICT technology, especially improvement of network, it is possible to alter traditional social production and lifeway based on varied advanced services. In 2004, in Korea and Japan, conceptions of U-Korea and U-Japan have been developed for the goal of internet society in order to build an internet surrounding.
Community in the age of networked digital media
As a community, it is regarded as a relationship in colony among individuals, individual and group, groups. This kind of relationship is formed and held together by communication of members in colony. And it exists in special structure. Based on digital media, in this kind of community, there are real and virtual statuses. Virtual name is just as a different title of real status. (Howard Rheingold. 1993) There are two possibilities. One the one hand, one person could take participation in network from real world, such as community on line for relatives, mates, and classmates. On the other hand, one person could go back real world from network. He could find some virtual person with common interests on line. After communicating, it is possible to become acquaintance in real, meanwhile; they could contact each other on line.
Based on digital media, situation with interlacing of roles and behaviors in real and virtual community is more and more. Such as Secondlife, it is considered to redefine the conception of network. (http://secondlife.com) There are copies on line which include lots of situations, details and experience in real. Users could enter into these virtual communities through downloading client services. In these virtual communities, each user has a virtual status and can communicate, play games even and make some deals as same as in real world.
Conclusion
Founded on network, development of modern media technology is considered to impact on spreading ways and contents of politics. Compared to traditional media, there are more advantages for new communication technology. It is helpful to improve progress of globalization and convergence of the whole world is possible to come true per network. Moreover, community based on digital media is coherent essentially with community in real. Community on network is not only benefit for exploitation of thought, but also for development of social space in real.


Reference:
1. http://www.whitehouse.gov/
2. Howard Rheingold. (1993). The Virtual Community. Web: http://www.rheingold.com/vc/book/
3. Howard Tumber. (2000). Media Power, Professionals, and Policies. Routledge, pp. 214
4. Jennings Bryant, Mary Beth Oliver. (1996). Media effects: advances in theory and research. Lawrence Erlbaum, pp. 294
5. James Curran, Michael Gurevitch. (2005). Mass Media and Society. Arnold, pp.
6. www.gov.sg
7. http://secondlife.com
8. Blog Survey: Expectations of Privacy and Accountability,http://web.media.mit.edu/~fviegas/survey/blog/results.htm
9. K. Renckstorf, D. McQuail, N. Jankowski. (1995). Media use as social action: a European approach to audience studies. University of Luton Press, pp. 5510. Thomas Friedman. (2002). The World is Flat. Farrar, Straus And Giroux, p.