| Chapter 1: | Introduction—Surveying the Cyberterrain of Developing Country Head of State Web Sites |
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More than 30 other leaders of developing countries maintain similar Web sites, although this number fluctuates as regimes rise and fall or hardware issues derail sites. Those leaders with Web sites have staked a place in cyberspace that alternately can function as a podium, microphone, press office, and briefing room—all traditional arenas for presidential communication. A January 2003 National Public Radio broadcast discussed this trend, noting that these sites “tend to ‘spin’ leaders’ legacies.”1 These Web sites provide an entree to governments and presidencies, which are often viewed as distant, bureaucratic structures by the citizens they serve (Demchak, Friis, & La Porte, 2000). European governments such as Croatia, Georgia, and Russia have hired public relations agencies, often based in the United States, to cultivate their images and position their countries within the global community (Hiebert, 1992a). The World Wide Web has played a critical role in these nation-building efforts, both abroad and domestically (Taylor & Kent, 1999).
Presidents and governments across the globe clearly recognize the promise of using the Web to build their nations and support their regimes. As of February 5, 2003, more than 19,100 government institutions worldwide maintained Web sites (Anzinger, 2003). Scattered among the official government sites are a plethora of related Web sites, some maintained by embassies or consulates abroad and others by various ministries or government commissions. Most governments employ one or several Web sites that are “official.” The appearance and functionality of those sites are as diverse as the populations of many of the countries themselves. A quick glance at many developing country Web sites reveals a rich and complex tapestry of texts, images, and ideologies.
For example, the homepage of President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan reads, “The availability of more detailed information about Kazakhstan will no doubt help in creating an unbiased and positive image of our young state. I hope that owing to the ever-growing opportunities of the Internet, Kazakhstan will no longer remain a terra incognita on the electronic map of the world” (http://www.president.kz /main/mainframe.asp?lng=en).