由於資訊科技的進步使得民主的形式由告知式(informing)走向參與式(involving)，此兩種民主除了資訊系統的本質不同外，與其有關的經濟問題和所提供資訊之內容亦有不同。而資訊科技之發展對於人們的民主生活影響至巨，小自個人工作方式及公司的政策決定，大至個人與國家，甚至在國家間的全球互動方式上，都有極深遠的影響，使得一個國家在國際資訊洪流中的地位，已可成為其世界領導權的指標。 本文分段論述民主的定義與分類，資訊環境對民主的影響，傳播科技與全球互動的關係，傳播電信與民主化之關係，最後提出結論。

　　　　　Advances in information technology have resulted in the tendency of democracy to shift from an informing type of democracy to an involving type. These two kinds of democracy differ not only in the nature of their information systems, but also in the pertinent economic issues and information content provided. The development of information technology has had an enormous impact on life in a democracy. On the micro-level, it affects the way individuals work and the policy decisions of corporations,while on the macro-level, it has had a profound impact on the mutual interation worldwide between individuals and the state, as well as between states. This has resulted in the status that a country is accorded within the global information trend serving as an index of its world leadership. In separate parts, this article discusses the definition and classification of democracies, the impact of the information environment upon democracies, the interaction between communication technology and the world, the relationship detween telecommunications and democratization, and finally, a conclusion.