Abstract

A few years ago, respondents in developing countries had never used the internet or even had electricity to charge a cell phone; but now, respondents overwhelmingly report that they are using computers and cell phones to send e-mail, play games, access information, listen to music, bank, develop literacy skills, and enroll in e-courses. Developing countries are using cellular telephones and internet interconnectivity even more than countries nearly saturated with these devices and conveniences. What can we learn from African, Asian, South American, Middle Eastern countries and even island countries like Jamaica, Maldives and the Philippines? This collection of data comes at a critical time for exploring shifts in communication practices that are occurring in all nations. It introduces explanatory theory from a student’s viewpoint to complete the BRICS country overview and add 18 countries worthy of observation. Some are carefully watched to see if they pass over into developed country status. All are experiencing infrastructure problems. Their technology in many cases is leapfrogging into usage patterns seen in the US, Canada, and Western Europe. The purpose of this scholarship is to acknowledge the uniqueness of culture in each of the countries observed without attempting to impose a western framework of interpretation upon the communication behaviors. This is exploratory research accomplished by many who spoke the language of the country they investigated. We hope that this book inspires continued dialogue on the influences of electronic communication and falls outside the purview of readers’ daily lives, providing a window into these developing nations.