Identity in the Information Age in the Perspective of Manuel Castells

An Analytical Theoretical Study

Abstract

As technological advancements have permeated all aspects of daily life, new information channels and services have emerged that were unimaginable in the pre-technological era. Thanks to new and sophisticated technologies, the world operates as a single global village, with societies constantly engaging in millions of diverse transactions across the borderless internet on a daily basis. The advent of technology has had a profound impact on various aspects of human society, prompting Manuel Castells to develop his theory of the Information Age. In the second volume of his work, Castells delves into the sensitive topic of identity, examining its transformation in the digital era. This research aims to explore the phenomenon of religious fundamentalism, with a particular focus on Islamic and Christian fundamentalism in the context of the Information Age. Given the significance of national identity, the study employs Castells' Information Age theory to shed light on this issue. Castells' analysis of stateless nations in the Information Age highlights the case of Catalonia, a region in Spain that shares similarities with Kurdistan. Inspired by Castells' framework, this research seeks to illuminate the Kurdish identity and its trajectory in the Information Age. The Zapatista movement in Mexico stands as an exemplary case of a group that has effectively utilized the internet and information technology to internationalize their cause. Similarly, militias, which pose a persistent challenge to the United States, are examined through Castells' lens as influential social movements.