Globalization and heterogenization: Cultural and civilizational clustering in telecommunicative space (1989–1999) Sorin Adam Matei * ,1 Department of Communication, 2132 Beering Hall of Liberal Arts (BRNG), Purdue University, 100 N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States Received 11 October 2004; received in revised form 27 June 2005; accepted 9 September 2005 Abstract The globalization of telecommunicative ties between nations is studied from a heterogenization perspective. A theoretical model inspired by AppaduraiÕs ‘‘disjuncture hypothesis,’’ which stipulates that global flows of communication are multidimensional and reinforce regional/local identities, is tested empirically on an international voice traffic dataset. Spatial-statistical measures (global and local versions of MoranÕs I) indicate that countries that share the same linguistic (English, Spanish, or French) or civilizational (Catholic, Protestant, and Buddhist–Hindu) background are more likely to be each otherÕs ‘‘telecommunicative neighbors’’ and that this tendency has increased over time (1989–1999). Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Globalization; Heterogenization; Disjuncture; Autocorrelation; Telephone traffic 0736-5853/$ - see front matter Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.tele.2005.09.002 * Tel.: +1 7654947780; fax: +1 3602341545. E-mail addresses: smatei@purdue.edu, smatei@yahoo.com 1 Has a variety of research and instructional interests, including socio-spatial shaping of communication technology, on-line social interaction and communities, and spatial analysis (Geographic Information Systems) applied to local and international communication processes and flows. Telematics and Informatics 23 (2006) 316–331 www.elsevier.com/locate/tele