Network activities are particularly important in the context of small, remote island societies where the benefits from network externalities are greater than one might think. The intensity of networking depends on several factors including: geographical location, culture, socio-economic interdependence, political affiliations and information and communication technology (ICT), all which are examined in this paper.
This paper has focused on external and internal networking of Okinawa's islands as a case study. Externally, Okinawa's “Worldwide Uchinanchu” network, which was created by overseas emigrants from Okinawa, is unique because it is progressing beyond a mere network of Okinawan identity. Internally, this study reveals that the networking structure within Okinawa's inhabited islands has been changing dynamically, reflecting the islands' changing lifestyles and rapidly progressing information technology.
It is important to realize that the seemingly irreversible trends of globalization and the ICT revolution have merits as well as demerits for small island societies. Globalization, on the one hand, has brought about the increasing integration of island societies into larger ones, thereby enlarging socio-economic opportunities for islands. On the other hand, it has increased their socio-economic vulnerability. The ICT revolution has also created new and wider opportunities for island societies where distance has been a “tyranny” imposing severe handicaps on islands' socio-economic activities. There are, however, mounting fears among islanders that the new ICT technology may create a “digital divide” by-passing small, remote islands.