The Internet: Its Influences on Environmental Communication and Environmental Movements

In this chapter environmental communication in scientific, political and public spheres and the influence of the Internet on environmental movements in Russia are reviewed and analysed in a sociological perspective. Direct and indirect influences of the Internet on social change processes are discussed. The use of the Internet in environmental communication shows, as in other spheres of communication and action, heterogeneous and contrasting social effects. Changes of macro-social systems, their structures and processes happen only in the long run and in combination of Internet use with other factors and forms of social change. Analyses of institutional and individual communication practices show that the Internet creates simultaneously more autonomy of action and more control and surveillance; not a more homogeneous society is emerging through the Internet, but one with non-anticipated new problems, conflicts and inequalities among which environmental problems become ever more important.