Open Access
The Global Flow of Culture on Wikipedia: Quantitative Analysis of Cross-Cultural Interconnections
4
Department of Information and Communication Studies, Sophia University, Japan
Abstract
This study explores the role of Wikipedia as a tool for understanding global cultural networks through a quantitative analysis of its content. Wikipedia, as one of the largest user-generated knowledge platforms, holds significant potential for revealing patterns of cultural interaction, influence, and exchange. By examining the interlinking structure of Wikipedia articles, we aim to map the relationships between cultures as they are represented on the platform. Using network analysis techniques and a corpus of Wikipedia articles across multiple languages, this research uncovers how cultural references are interconnected, identifying cultural hubs and the flow of information across borders. The findings suggest that Wikipedia acts as a digital reflection of global cultural networks, with particular emphasis on the influence of major cultures, such as the U.S. and Western Europe, while highlighting the marginalization of smaller cultural representations. This study contributes to the growing body of research on digital cultural exchange and the role of online platforms in shaping global cultural dialogue.
Keywords
Wikipedia,
cultural networks,
network analysis
References
Barabási, A. L., & Albert, R. (1999). Emergence of scaling in random networks. Science, 286(5439), 509-512. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.286.5439.509
Choi, Y., & Kwon, W. (2018). Analyzing Wikipedia’s cultural diversity through network analysis. Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 21(1), 22-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/1097198X.2018.1436017
Foucault, M. (1972). The Archaeology of Knowledge. Pantheon Books.
Girvan, M., & Newman, M. E. J. (2002). Community structure in social and biological networks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 99(12), 7821-7826. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.122653799
Hecht, B., & Gergle, D. (2010). Measuring self-focus bias in community-contributed content. Proceedings of the ACM 2010 Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, 311-320. https://doi.org/10.1145/1718918.1718963
Hochschild, A. R., & Machung, A. (2012). The Second Shift: Working Families and the Revolution at Home. Penguin Books.
Sumi, R., & Kawazoe, M. (2020). A cultural network analysis of Wikipedia: Revealing the diversity of knowledge from a global perspective. Social Network Analysis and Mining, 10(1), 34-50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13278-020-00651-w
Van der Weerd, M., & Spruit, M. (2019). The power of Wikipedia: How cultural articles shape global knowledge. Journal of Information Science, 45(2), 186-201. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165551519829005
Williams, R., & May, T. (2008). Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge. Polity Press.
Zhao, D., & Wang, H. (2020). Bridging cultures in digital platforms: The case of Wikipedia. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 10(3), 215-230. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-03-2019-0042
Zhao, Y., & Smith, C. (2021). Exploring cultural hegemony in Wikipedia: A network approach to global knowledge dissemination. International Journal of Communication, 15, 5400-5423.
Lazer, D. M. J., et al. (2009). Computational social science. Science, 323(5915), 721-723. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1167742
Carr, D. (2015). Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice. Sage Publications.
Shulman, M. (2012). Cultural Networks and Social Influence. Routledge.
How to Cite
The Global Flow of Culture on Wikipedia: Quantitative Analysis of Cross-Cultural Interconnections. (2025). Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(05), 1-9. https://www.grpublishing.org/journals/index.php/gjhss/article/view/170
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Dr. Dhakaram Sapkota, Dr.Dol Raj Kafle, THE EVOLUTION OF EDUCATION FROM TRADITIONS TO FORMAL SYSTEMS UNDER THE RANA REGIME IN NEPAL , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 10 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 10
- Prof. Benson Rambo, ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES ON PERFORMANCE WITHIN KENYA'S SUGAR INDUSTRY , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 02 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 02
- Umar Beihai, Mukthar Nadeem Akhtar, MACROECONOMIC FACTORS AND POVERTY IN PAKISTAN: EXPLORING THEIR IMPACT ON RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 01 (2023): Volume 02 Issue 01
- Sam Dominic, PROGRESSIVE HEALTH SPENDING AND MALARIA OUTCOMES IN NIGERIA: UNVEILING THE IMPACT , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 11 (2023): Volume 02 Issue 11
- Fatma Bulut, BUILDING CONFIDENCE: THE INFLUENCE OF MICROTEACHING ON SPEAKING ANXIETIES AMONG PRE-SERVICE TURKISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 03 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 03
- Mustafa Yıldırım, CROSS-BORDER CARE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MIGRANT HEALTH POLICIES IN TURKEY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 10 (2023): Volume 02 Issue 10
- Dr. Jéssica Tarine, Preserving Brazil's Military Heritage: some museum management strategies , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 04 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 04
- Sahabi Adam, UNPACKING THE RELATIONSHIP: FDI, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND SERVICE SECTOR VALUE ADDITION IN GHANA , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 12 (2023): Volume 02 Issue 12
- Xiaodan Wang, Book Review: "Educational Processes, Decisions, and the Development of Competencies from Early Preschool Age to Adolescence" , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 08 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 08
- Khairul Fuzi, EXAMINING REGULATORY GOVERNANCE: A CASE STUDY OF MALAY MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS IN PENANG, MALAYSIA , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 1 No. 01 (2022): Volume 01 Issue 01
Similar Articles
- Dr. Jéssica Tarine, Preserving Brazil's Military Heritage: some museum management strategies , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 04 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 04
- Sagatova Ziyodaxon Baxtiyarovna, The Role And Prospects Of Humanitarian Cooperation In The Development Of Cultural Diplomacy Between Uzbekistan And Turkey , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 5 No. 02 (2026): Volume 05 Issue 02
- Dr. Dol Raj Kafle, Dr. Tara Nath Ghimire, Tej Bahadur KC, Numismatic Insights: Unveiling the Historical and Cultural Significance of Lichchhavi Currency in Ancient Nepal , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 08 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 08
- Jagat Nepal, Tara Nath Ghimire, Dol Raj Kafle, CONTRIBUTION OF NEPAL TELEVISION TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEPALI POLITICS THROUGH LANGUAGE, ART, AND CULTURE , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 11 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 11
- Dr. Samuel K. Moyo, Perceptions Of Health Risk, Sexual Behaviour, And Behaviour Change Communication In Low- And Middle-Income Contexts: An Integrative Public Health Analysis , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 5 No. 01 (2026): Volume 05 Issue 01
- Dr. Sofia L. Moretti, Negotiating Inclusion, Identity, And Communication Modalities: A Comprehensive Examination Of Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Students’ Educational And Social Experiences In Mainstream Schooling , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 5 No. 02 (2026): Volume 05 Issue 02
- Hossein Vahid Aminpour, CROSSING CULTURES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VIRTUAL AND HARDCOPY PERSIAN TRANSLATIONS OF ENGLISH NOVELS , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 07 (2023): Volume 02 Issue 07
- Radhika Sharma, SOVEREIGNTY AND SPLENDOR: THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD OF THE KACHHAWA KINGS OF JAIPUR , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 11 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 11
- Deepti Makwana, Hatim Ghadiwala, BRECHTIAN ECHOES IN GIRISH KARNAD: AN ANALYSIS OF HAYAVADANA AND YAYATI , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 09 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 09
- Ramandeep Lamba, UNFOLDING MOTIVATION THROUGH STORIES: A TAT-BASED STUDY AMONG ASSAM’S STUDENTS , Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 12 (2024): Volume 03 Issue 12
1-10 of 49
Next
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.