Online relations : a case study exploring the social, cultural and political value of the Internet for exile-Burmese

This inquiry explores how exile-Burmese value social, cultural and political aspects of the internet. The empirical basis for the analysis is semistructured interviews with three Burmese in Oslo and nine in London. The analysis is also in part based on research of Burmese-related online web-sites and internet-applications. The study is, however, not an analysis of these web-sites. The approaches focus on how the interviewees value the possibilities the internet offers for finding information concerning Burma, and how they experience the possibilities to communicate with Burmese friends and fellows. Hence, the analysis also aims at exploring whether the internet has any function when it comes to maintaining the interviewees sense of belonging to a Burmese community, and their sense of identity. The thesis consists of an introductory chapter where the approaches are presented and significant concepts are explained. A chapter about Burmese history, culture and society follows this chapter. Next, methodologically and theoretically choices are thoroughly elaborated. The analysis is divided into one part concerning social and cultural aspects and another part concerning political aspects. The final chapter presents a critical view on the inquiry. The analysis shows that the internet may have important functions both socially, culturally and politically. The crucial point is the individual user and the context within which the internet is used. The offline context and the Burmese culture establish significant premises for how the internet is used and perceived