Barry Wellman seems to have been the one who came up with the term "glocalization." I have included Keith Hampton's doctoral dissertation, which includes the concept, too, and no, I don't know their relationship. This collection of links should give you food for thought until I can get to the teaching essay. Notice the emphasis that is being placed on the interdependence of the new media (the Internet) with the various social structures with which it interacts. There is little indication that Intenret users become anomic and isolated, apart from the real world culture. In this sense it seems to be very unlike the game phenomenon in which the inrteraction is primarily with the virtual world. More soon . . . December 19, 2001.

• Review
• Information, Communication, and Society an international journal for the information age.

  "This exciting new journal is unique in its aim to concentrate specifically on the social, economic and cultural impact of the emerging properties of the information age. Information Communication & Society (iCS) trancends cultural and geographical boudaries as it explores a diverse range of issues relating to the development and application of information and communications technologies (ICT's) . . . "
  iCS

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  Abstract of Information Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life by Mario Radavan, Information, Communication, and Society, Volume: 4 Number: 2 Page: 230 -- 246.

  Permission to Speak the Discourse of Difference: A Case Study by Gerry Philipsen. Research on Language and Social Interaction Volume: 33 Number: 2 Page: 213 -- 234.

  Abstract: A case study is presented in which a public speaker drew attention to social differences among the parties present in a speech event. Subsequent public discourse was directed to the propriety of the speaker's conduct. I show how differing rules for public discourse were expressed by those who challenged the propriety of the speaker's conduct and by the speaker himself in defense of his conduct. The juxtaposition of the speaker's accounting and the challengers' critique exposes distinctive rules for the conduct of public discourse with regard to how social differences may be talked about in contemporary public discourse.
  Affiliations: 1: Department of Speech Communication, University of Washington.

  Trial for iCS subscription

• Pew Internet Foundation

  • Online Communities: Networks that nurture long-distance relationships and local ties (backup PDF file.)

    "All in all, 84% of Internet users have at one time or another contacted an online group." . . . (at p. 2) "With the dramatic displays of community spirit around the country following September 11, there are hopes that Americans’ repulsion and shock the attacks might have sparked a renewal of civic spirit in the United States." (at p. 2) ". . . existing vibrancy of online communities. . ." (at p. 2)

    "Political Groupies: 22% of Internet users About one in five (22%) of Internet users have used the Internet to contact a political group or organization, and this subset of Internet users is a predominantly male, educated, veteran group of surfers, with an urban bent. Fully 60% are male, half (50%) have a college education, and more than half (54%) have been online for three years or more. And 36% of users who have contacted a political group live in urban areas compared with 31% of all Internet users. Racially, blacks are underrepresented in this group, as only 4% of those politically involved are black compared to 8% of the Internet population." (at p. 22)

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  • Wired Seniors Pew Internet Press Release. On the percentage of Internet users over 65.

  • Doctoral dissertation: Living the Wired Life in the Wired Suburb: Netville, Glocalization and Civil Society by Keith N. Hampton. Scroll down to find the dissertation title. Beware! It's very long!