From Facebook to Webct internet use has become an integral part of the Canadian experience. According to a 2007 survey 77% of Canadian adults use the internet (Mckeown & Veenhof, 2009). The widespread use of the internet amongst Canadians both at home and at work indicates that the internet has become an important part of Canadian culture. The internet gained widespread appeal in the 1990s , long after the dismantling of the huge empires which once dominated the world, but like the novels described by Said the internet reflects the world’s imperial past.
Edward Said defines imperialism as ‘…thinking about settling on, controlling land you do not posses, that is distant , that is lived on and owned by others (Said, 1993, p. 4).” While the once celebrated idea of imperialism or controlling the land of another people and subjugating its population is no longer considered acceptable the impact of imperialism and some of the attitudes which informed imperialist agendas linger. Western empires encompassed so much of the globe that all cultures can be considered hybrids influenced both by the beliefs and customs of the indigenous peoples and those of the colonists or imperial administrators. The existence of these empires has meant that countries and cultures are interconnected (Said, 1993). Cultural products like novels have been thought of as “free from worldly affiliation” (Said, 1993, p.13) however Said argues that culture and imperialism are connected. Said examines novels to explore how imperialism was both legitimated and critiqued through cultural products. Like the novel the internet can be seen as a cultural product which is a hybrid of many cultures and which has maintained divisions established through imperialism.
The internet allows many people to express themselves through discussion groups and blogs, so like the novels described by Said it is a hybrid of different cultures. However the internet excludes a large portion of the world’s population. The structure of the internet has meant that it reflects the hierarchical divisions established by imperialism. The dominance of American content and companies on the internet limits the perspectives on the internet. In addition the internet reproduces the inequalities that characterized imperial relationships by limiting or controlling access to new opportunities.
One way the internet reproduces the unequal relationship between the former colonial powers and the former colonies is through the regulation of content. The internet was created in the United States and the content available through the internet reflects its origins (Drori, 2004). Most of the content on the internet is in English. In addition websites are often affiliated with large American companies and once independent sites are being bought by larger corporations. For example Google recently bought Youtube an internet video site. This purchase has allowed Google to extend its control over what is available on the internet. I have noticed an increase in videos which are not available in my area due to Googles more stringent adherence to licensing agreements. The predominance of companies like Google has meant that smaller websites are not accessible. Companies originating in former colonies are less likely to have the capital to compete with American corporations like Google so the inequality which characterized colonial relations is mirrored in the internet.
Another way the internet has maintained the unequal relationship which was established during the height of imperialist expansionism is by limiting or controlling access to opportunities. While the internet has become integral to how Canadians and Americans do business and access education many people in former colonies cannot afford to access the internet. In 2000 “35 of the least developed countries, which are home to half a billion people accounted for only 1 percent of on-line users (Drori, 2004, p. 435). An inability to access the internet due to financial constraints further disadvantages poor people because they have less access to the types information which might help them alleviate their poverty. In addition it prevents them from bettering their situation by making other people aware of services they might have to offer. As a result former colonies which suffer from poverty do not have the ability to compete with imperialist countries and they remain dependent upon their former masters. Instead of creating equality the internet maintains the hierarchy which was developed through imperialism.
The internet is an important part of our culture. The information on the internet reflects many cultures however the dominance of American companies and the concentration of ownership which characterize the internet indicate that the ideologies of superiority which informed imperial policies continue to be reproduced in American and Canadian culture.
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