NGOs ‐ New Communications Technologies and Concepts of Political Community

This article argues that the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) by some large international NGOs provides an infrastructure for the formation of political communities. These communities, although diffuse and ephemeral, have tangible political effects. This is significant to IR in two respects. Firstly, it is necessary for scholars of international affairs to assess the impact of ICTs now, rather than to engage in speculative interpretations; mechanisms for such analysis must be developed. Secondly, the concept of community in IR, always a rather vague notion, must be re‐examined and extended to include a broader range of actors.