Triangular Relationship between the Internet, Institution, and Political Participatio

This study examines the triangular relationship between citizens' political participation, institutions, and the Internet proliferation. While the literature in the communication field has been studied the relationship between the Internet and political participation, the role of institutions has been a missing block. Conversely, while comparative studies from sociology and political science have contemplated the role of the institution, the impacts of digital media have not been seriously stressed. This study is an attempt to bridge the gap between these disciplines.;The study results are three-folded. First, by using ABM simulation models, the study has provided the hint that Internet mechanism of participation diffusion has the component to induce institutional path-dependency through the homophily and network externality effect.;Second, the study found that, compared with other political systems, the interaction between Internet proliferation and the proportional presentation system is stable while the plurality system is greatly affected by the level of Internet proliferation. Then, it is found that the interaction between the Internet proliferation and proportional representation system has relatively more positive impacts on voter turnout at the aggregate level. Regarding the modes of non-electoral participation, it is found that individual probability of participating in a demonstration and political meeting/rally gets higher in the proportional representation system as the Internet proliferation increases.;Third, though its impacts are rather small, it is found that the interaction between Internet proliferation and the strength of political parallelism of the news media system has positive impacts on the institutionalized route of political participations. As Internet proliferation increases, the weaker level of political parallelism displays the relatively higher individual probability of participation in the mode of participation outside of institutionalized politics (express views online and demonstration on the streets).;Based on these findings, it is suggested that the interaction between the political system and the Internet is related to the distinction between collective and individualized modes of participation, whereas the interaction between political parallelism of media system and the Internet is related to the distinction between institutionalized and non-institutionalized politics.