The Internet Culture in Oman -Through interviews with University students in Oman-

The early discussion on the globalization had been made laying stress on economic integration toward western powers. However, coordination among nations focused on economic and political arenas has made different nations increase cultural contacts, leading to phenomenons such as cultural exchanges, fusion, repulsion, assimilation. The idea on the culture understood as an emblem of national identity or collective action in the past has been changed into global phenomenon rather than local one due to globalization. Since cultural globalization in the third world started with mass media and satellite broadcasting in 1980s, it has been sped-up with the revitalization of the internet with many to many communication. What are the meaning and the role of the internet in Oman society in which conservatism still prevails throughout the country? Even though Oman is pushing strongly for growth of information and communication technologies at the government level, the internet has not been popularized. That's because only university students and those with higher educational background use computers. Moreover, most students use the internet to retrieve information required for doing their courses. Therefore it is unfit to say that the internet can lead the social change in general, producing generalized cultural code. Under these conditions, the author seeks to examine the cultural significance of the internet in Oman society. In addition, the possibility of the inflow of western modern value through the internet will be studied on the base of the fact that some Oman women are enjoying positive activities related with recent political and social issues in their cyber communities. This study has been developed from the interviews with students of Sultan Qaboos University in Feb. 2007. The author has studied on the propensity and the purpose to use the internet in university students, its cultural significance in the young generation, and its influences on the entire society through the interviews.