IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIAL CAPITAL THROUGH THE INTERNET IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: CASE STUDY OF IRAN

The Internet has changed the features of developing countries as well as other parts of the world; social capital and its extension via the help of the Internet are among these features. This paper mainly discusses the improvement of Iranians social capital through the Internet by focusing on the involved groups including political, religious, and ethnical groups that have different attitudes and values. Moreover, we attempt to discuss similarities and differences between Iran and other developing countries and extend the results of Iran to other developing countries. Toward these aims, first, a definition of a developing country, specific characteristics of Iran, similarities and differences between Iran and other developing countries, definitions and characteristics of social capital, function of attitudes and values in constructions and extension of social capital, and internet effects on social capital will be explained. Second, the results were obtained using the Focus Group Method, which will be divided into four parts according to political, religious, and ethnical characteristics of Iranian people; a single part of the results is dedicated to common functions of the Internet on social capital among developing countries. Third, in the Discussion, social capital of the Iranian people that is constructed and extended through the Internet will be analyzed by a combination of different parts of the paper and Focus Group results. At the end, some recommendations will be stated for future studies and researchers.