(Dis)connected: Romanian-Canadians in Cyberspace
(Dis)connected: Romanian-Canadians in Cyberspace

Summary/Abstract: This article explores the interaction of first generation Romanian-Canadians from Toronto and the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) with Romanian online communities developed in this city. It begins by exploring the concept of community in the context of cyberspace, and then explores the influence of online participation upon face-to-face encounters. The article will also emphasize the importance of taking the social and cultural context into consideration when undertaking an analysis of Internet use and online participation, and arguer that this perspective is of particular use in the case of immigrant communities. The second half of the article shifts from a theoretical to an empirical approach, building on 30 ethnographic interviews undertaken in Toronto and the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) with first generation immigrants from Romania. The analysis of interviews will present some of the practices employed by this ethnic group when using the Internet, aiming to understand whether the persons included in the research sample consider that Romanian online communities are able to play a catalyzing role for the members of this ethnic group.

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