The role of the internet and the hometown associations in the globalization process

In this study, titled ?The Role of the internet and the hometown associations in the globalization process?, we tried to discuss how the internet, that develops along with the globalization phenomenon and thus accelerates the globalization, and the hometown associations founded over internet fulfill such functions like sharing local cultures, recreating their cultures and providing social aid for their members in the community. This study is also significant because it puts forward the fact that the internet not only spreads the global culture, but also creates local values.The globalization process that influences the economic, political and social structures, introduces two approaches in terms of culture. According to the first approach, with the introduction of globalization process, the different cultures melt within the dominant culture that embraces the world. On the other hand, according to the second approach, different cultures in the world flow side by side.The modernization movements have led the migrations in Turkey to accelerate in 1980?s as a result of globalization. The people from the rural areas of the country, who have migrated away from their hometowns to various regions, had an urgent need to associate with their fellow countrymen that have migrated from the same area and shared the same cultures so that they would not feel lonely and would keep their original culture alive. In time, these relationships among the fellow countrymen led to the establishment of hometown associations to make them official. The hometown associations not only ensure the fellow countrymen get together in the urban atmosphere where individualism prevails, but also gives the people from rural areas the opportunity to protect and maintain their values and cultures.With the development of advanced communication technologies that ensure the globalization to accelerate starting from 1980?s, the hometown associations have benefited this opportunity and had a chance to introduce themselves countrywide and even worldwide. Thus, they not only share their local cultures by recreating, but also they try to blend into the culture where they live in.Key Words: Globalization, Culture, Citizenship, Fellow Townsmen Association, Internet