Globalization, Internet and National Cohesion in Iran (A Case Study of the Students of Isfahan University)

The occurrence of the third industrial revolution known as the digital revolution in the area of communications has led to a change which is known as globalization. Globalization, meaning the closeness of countries and nations to each other in various areas has had different political outcomes that one of the most challenging is in the culture. Some thinkers equate globalization with the domination of western culture. In contrast, some others view it as an opportunity for groups with subcultures in multi-cultural societies to introduce their own cultures in a global environment through the Internet and other communication technologies. The optimistic approach toward globalization for groups with subcultures has given rise to question of whether such an effect challenges national consensus in multi-cultural societies. Because, national consensus means to the agreement of members of a society on shared beliefs, norms and values. Due to the growth of the middle class especially students, and their increased use of the Internet, the Iranian society is not immune from such a peril, either. This study attempts to explain the relationship between the use of the internet and its impacts on national consensus in Iran. This study is a survey research which uses questionnaires for data collection. The statistical population comprises all the students studying at the University of Isfahan in 2012 among whom 184 students were selected by quota random sampling. The research findings and the related statistical activities were performed by using SPSS and Amos programs. By dividing the amount of using Internet into two levels of amount and type of use and dividing national consensus into three aspects of cultural, legal, and political consensus, the research findings reveal that there is a significant correlation between these factors.