Internet democracy and blogosphere

8 important questions on Internet democracy and blogosphere

What were the expectations of the internet by Euphorics?

Electronic democracy, source of information, more transparency, internet consultations, forums, plebicites, cheap platforms, empowers parliementatians, international democracy.

What were the expectations of the internet by Sceptics?

Internet is commercial, reliability of info?, Governmental public relations, internet democracy undermines representative democracy, inequity (digital devide), fragmentation of public debate, empowers extremists, national governments censor internet access.

What makes a democratic public sphere?

Openness of access, quality of deliberation and publicity of public affairs. - Three dimensions to assess the democratic quality of the public sphere (building on Habermas).
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Do political blogs facilitate deliberation?

- bloggers mostly link to similar minded content

- blog readrs: sought-for accidental information (media fragmentation)

- blog readers are more polarised than average population and TV news audiences.

- readers seek out like-minded blogs

Thus leading to selective expusure and political polarization

Do political blogs facilitate political participation?

- blog readers are above average informed

- levels of political participation: political blog readers>readers of non-political blogs>non- readers of blogs

- left-wing bloggers participate more than right wing bloggers - more left wing blogs aim at mobilisation

Thus unclear whether political blogs enhance participation or attract the politically active part of the public.

What is the internet and how can it support democracy?

A network of networks that can provide a platform of information, mobilisation and cooperation

How had the internet changed the structure of the public shpere?

An additional facet of the public sphere

Have these changes enhanced the deliberative quality of the public sphere?

Selective exposure and reinforced polarization

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

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