Political Aspects

After the detant of the cold war, the power of balance shifted from Russo-Americana to Pax Americana in 1980's. Internet developed corresponding to the shift, resulting the USA has been the dominant player in net world. As internet developed as the "information super highway" for military in America, the policics played a major role in the internet. However, in 2000's, the penetration of the internet throughout the globe as well as the sun rise in China drives the end of the Pax Americana in internet. As a result, the political role in internet becomes more complicated and sensitive issues.

Here indicated main issues that the government now plays a role in internet, since the scenario selected is "more or same" so the change in the effect may be limited to the certain level.

Regulations

China factor

In China, the user of internet drastically increase in recent years. In 1997, the user in China was only 620,000, but in 2002, the number has sharply increased to 33,700,000. (http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1543/ ) In China, goverment focus cencoring internet site more on the broadcasting pages rather than the porn sites, according to BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/technology/2540309.stm ) In 2002, China blocks 19,032 sites from all over the world, including BBC, CNN, Google. The reason why the government do so is because the government is afraid of the rumor or the revolusion driven by the information dilusion. The eastern European countries in 1980 are the good example. The corruption of the Berlin wall was driven by the radio broadcasting by US militaly. The information shake people up and let them know the situation in the West, as well as the free atmosphere, so that the revolution process was speed up. In that context, the internet may plays major role in alertness. However, the Chinise government rather now take the moderate, gradual policy on internet. According to Sho-Kin-Shei, the head of Infomartion and Industry department in China, the China will rather concentrate on the fostering people who can manage the internet, on resolution of digital devide regardless of the income level and on establishment of the standards and technologies. On the othre hand, Sho also mentioned the future of the Chinese internet as the regulation to access to the "inappropriate site" should be more restrictive than ever before to provide "proper infromation" to the people.

So althrough the technology and engineers may change the method and form of use in internet, the people may never be affected the contents of the internet because of the regulations.

Effects on internet to the government