Culture and the Structure of the International Hyperlink Network

This article explores the relationship between national culture and the structure of the international Internet linkage. World System Theory suggests that economic relations within nations are the primary organizing principles of international communication. However, recent research suggests that other factors may also impact the process. Using hyperlink data from Barnett and Park (in press), the current research examines the role of culture as an organizing mechanism of the Internet. The results indicated that national culture is significantly related to network centrality and its overall structure. The limitations of this research and the implications of the findings for globalization, a structural theory of international communication, and cultural convergence are discussed.