"Thus we have learned that many of the phenomena taking place around the world do not necessarily occur independently from each other, but may be inter-related, may influence each other internationally or in an interdisciplinary way. The expansion of IT (information technology) networks, in terms of both scale and function, has ushered in an age of truly international exchange, in which information can be shared on a global scale by individuals, bypassing nations and businesses. It is now possible for anyone in our society to interact casually with all the rest of the world."