Perception of Political Subjectivity on the Internet: Results of the Cross-national Cluster Analysis in the USA, United Kingdom, Mexico, Sweden, Russia, China, the Republic of South Africa

Vladimir Dmitrievich Nechaev,Elena Victorovna Brodovskaya,Anna Yurievna Dombrovskaya

doi:10.5539/ass.v11n7p269

Abstract

The paper presents the preliminary results of the cluster analysis devoted to the national databases research of theWorld Internet Project – 2012 in Russia, Sweden, China, United Kingdom, Mexico, USA and the Republic ofSouth Africa. The purpose of cluster analysis is to classify the respondents in accordance to the characteristics ofthe perception of political subjectivity on the Internet. Social profiles of different user groups in selectedcountries can help to identify different national strategies of political activities in the “World Wide Web”.

Highlights

The Internet has become one of the most significant tools of transforming communicative, political and social-cultural environment of the modern societies
Development and interpretation of the profiles was based on the papers and books of a wide range of researchers studying the trends of the Internet communication in the modern world (Freeman, 1997; Barber, 2001; Bimber, 1998; Cairncross, 1997; Castells, 2009; Coleman, 2005; Etzioni, 1993; Norris, 2001; Poster, 1997; Rheingold, 1991; Ward, Gibson, & Lusoli, 2003; Weber, Loumakis, & Bergman, 2003)
All countries covered by this study, are ranked in the ranking based on the weighted index estimates for the three main components: the coverage and quality of Internet services, the level of development of information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure and human capital

Summary

Introduction

The Internet has become one of the most significant tools of transforming communicative, political and social-cultural environment of the modern societies. Political recourses of the virtual space are an important research subject for a number of scientists all over the world (Anokhin, 2012; Runet.fom.ru, 2014; Brodovskaya & Shumilova, 2013; Bubnov, Dmitrieva, & Shapovalov, 2013; Dolgorukov, 2013; Davis, 2002; Elyakov, 2009) They reveal political effects of the Internet communication. Empirical objects of comparative analyses are 7 countries (China, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, Mexico, and South Africa). The choice of these countries was determined by the desire to achieve a wide geography of a sample of countries with different systems of political, economic and social system

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion