1 / 70

POLITICS

POLITICS. COM 125 A Done By: Maria Paul Goh Li Rong Graceilla Yvonne Andries Mariani. EFFECTS OF THE INTERNET ON POLITICS. Politics Faces Sweeping Change via the Web .

Olivia
Download Presentation

POLITICS

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. POLITICS COM 125 A Done By: Maria Paul Goh Li Rong Graceilla Yvonne Andries Mariani

  2. EFFECTS OF THE INTERNET ON POLITICS

  3. Politics Faces Sweeping Change via the Web • Transformation of American politics by the Internet is accelerating with the approach of the 2006 Congressional and 2008 White House elections -advertising -fund-raising -mobilizing supporters -spreading of negative information

  4. DEMOCRATS & REPUBLICANS • their use of e-mail • interactive Web sites • candidate and party blogs • text-messaging  • raise money • organize get-out-the-vote efforts • assemble crowds for rallies

  5. WHAT WAS SAID??? • The Internet • appears to be far more efficient • less costly VS • Traditional tools of politics - door knocking - telephone calls

  6. Interesting finding! • Candidates are actually studying popular Internet Social Networks like • Friendster • Facebook ways to reach groups of potential supporters with similar political views or cultural interests.

  7. President Bush's media consultant Mark McKinnon said, “television advertising, while still critical to campaigns, had become markedly less influential in persuading voters” "I feel like a woolly mammoth”

  8. Similarities • Music industry • Newspaper • Retailing - These candidates and parties are trying to adjust and take advantage of the Internet, as its influences spreads across the society.

  9. In other words…. • To a considerable extent, they are responding to, and playing catch up with, bloggers who have demonstrated the power of their forums to harness the energy on both sides of the ideological divide.

  10. the Internet was a significant factor in 2004 - the early success in fund-raising and organizing by Howard Dean • parties recognition and reliance on the Internet has increased at a staggering rate over the past two years

  11. Pew Research Center • 13 percent in the 2002 election cycle • 29 percent in 2004 • Pew survey (earlier this month) = 50 million Americans go to the Internet for news every day - 27 million people in March 2004 Internet being available for 70 million of people in America

  12. RESTRUCTURING!! • how to reach different segments of voters? • how to get voters to the polls ? • *how to raise money ? • the best way to have a candidate interact with the public ? -John Edwards = blog

  13. "The effect of the Internet on politics will be every bit as transformational as television was" • "If you want to get your message out, the old way of paying someone to make a TV ad is insufficient: You need your message out through the Internet, through e-mail, through talk radio” -Ken Mehlman, the Republican National Chairman

  14. "Politicians are having a hard time reconciling themselves to a medium where they can't control the message" • "Politics is lagging, but politics is not going to be immune to the digital revolution." -Michael Cornfield, a political science professor at George Washington University

  15. Future Planning • Mark Warner, began preparing for a potential 2008 presidential campaign by hiring a blogging pioneer • Jerome Armstrong- a noteworthy addition to the usual first-wave of presidential campaign hiring of political consultants and fund-raisers.

  16. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and Mr. Edwards • are routinely posting what aides say are their own writings on campaign blogs or on public blogs like the Daily Kos (the nation's largest). • In the 2004 campaign, 80 percent of people between the age of 18 and 34 who contributed to Mr. Kerry's campaign made their contribution online

  17. Republicans VS Democrats • Republicans spotlighted what they described as the lavish spending habits of Representative Harold E. Ford Jr. with a site called fancyford.com • Republicans launched a new attack site, bobsbaggage.com - Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey and focused on ethics accusations against him.

  18. Democrats have set up decoy Web sites to post documents with damaging information about Republicans • this means of distribution was described as far more efficient than the more traditional slip of a document to a newspaper reporter • http://capitolbuzz.blogspot.com • Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania Republican, parking in a spot reserved for the handicapped

  19. A Daily Kos blogger (Republican) wrote: "Not one dime, ladies and gentlemen, to anything connected with Steve Elmendorf. Anyone stupid enough to actually give a quote like that deserves to have every single one of his funding sources dry up.“ • "Since I got attacked on them, I read blogs a lot more and I find them very useful. -Steve Elmendorf, a Democratic consultant

  20. Challenges! • Adjusting to the changes • Anticipating the kind of technological changes that might be on hand by the next presidential campaign

  21. "All these consultants are still trying to make sense of what blogs are, and I think by 2008 they are going to have a pretty good idea: They are going to be like, 'We're hot and we're hip and we're bloggin',' " said Markos Moulitsas, the founder of the Daily Kos • Democratic leaders arguing that the Internet is today for Democrats what talk radio was for Republicans 10 years ago • -"This new media becomes much more important to us because conservatives have been more dominant in traditional media," said Simon Rosenberg, the president of the centrist New Democratic Network.

  22. LIMITATIONS!! • Internet use declines markedly among Americans over 65 -the nation's most reliable voters • heavily used by middle- and upper-income people. • has proved to be much less effective at swaying voters who are not interested in politics • "The holy grail that everybody is looking for right now is how can you use the Internet for persuasion,” - Mr. Armstrong, the Warner campaign Internet adviser

  23. voters are not as captive to a Website -to a 30-second television advertisement -a campaign mailing  A critical lesson of the collapse of Mr. Dean's presidential campaign, after he initially enjoyed great Internet success in raising money and drawing crowds

  24. Nagourney, A.(2006). Politics Faces Sweeping Change via the Web. The New York Times, retrieved on March 15 from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/washington/02campaign.html?ex=1301630400&en=d566826d88d5f5cf&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

  25. Can the Internet truly create Democracy?

  26. E-democracy • Cyberdemocracy / Digital Democracy • Use of electronic communications technologies, like the Internet, in enhancing democratic processes within a democratic republic or representative democracy • Political development still in its infancy • Subject of much debate • Includes electronic voting E-democracy. (2007). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_democracy

  27. Benefits of E-democracy • Citizen participation in public policy decision-making more expansive & direct • Enable broader influence in policy outcomes, because more individuals involved • Increasing transparency & accountability • Keeping government closer to the consent of the governed • Increase its political legitimacy E-democracy. (2007). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_democracy

  28. Public Sphere • Precondition for a strong liberal democracy • Debate centres on Philosopher Jürgen Habermas’ work,The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere Participatory democracy. (2007). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participatory_democracy Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  29. Public Sphere • Part of social life where citizens can exchange views on matters of importance to the common good, so that public opinion can be formed • When people gather to discuss issues of political concern Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  30. Public Sphere • Process of discussion, (rational-critical debate) • Avoid use of emotion or emotive language • Focus on rationality of content • Common interest in truth (participants speak as if they were equals) • Criticism is vital Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  31. Public Sphere • As compared to the Internet, traditional media has: • Vast resources • Established audience • Established methods of distribution • Internet not endowed with such resources Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  32. Public Sphere • Traditional media criticized as being active through their roles in publicity, instead of reporting on politics • Events manipulated, debates structured, such that maximum televisual impact is created • Doing little to contribute to the formation of discursive public will or opinion Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  33. Surveillance & Control • Most things on the Internet based on trust • Fear that government controls will diminish Internet ability to support democracy Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  34. After September 11 • Australian House of Representative • Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Bill 2002: “The Bill would change the long-established balance between individuals’ right to privacy and legitimate law enforcement needs. It would allow government agencies to intercept and read the contents of communications passing over telecommunications system, that are delayed and stored in transit, without a warrant of any type (e.g. email, voice mail and SMS messages that are stored on a service provider’s equipment pending delivery to the intended recipient).” Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  35. Access & Participation • Central problem: Full Participation • All parties that might be affected must be included • Can interact in a free, equal and easy manner • No restrictions on topics • Outcomes can be revised Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  36. Access & Participation • Require access to a computer • Cost of connection fees • Household access important, because people are more likely to engage in political debate from home rather than in the workplace • Answer to equity of access: sell one’s privacy Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  37. Access & Participation • Gender & Rationality • Previous male dominance of Internet reducing • Rational, objective “manly” styles of speech were judged superior to emotive, personal “effeminate” styles (McLaughlin, 1993) • Women are gradually acknowledged to have rational capacity Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  38. Access & Participation • Gender & Equal Voices • How can there be equal participation in discussions, while gender inequalities exist? • Men have been a dominating presence on the Internet (Dale Spencer, 1995 – Nattering on the Net) “ Make no mistake about it, the Internet is male territory. Considering its roots are sunk deep in academia and the military industrial complex, that’s hardly surprising.” Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  39. Access & Participation • First World Bias • U.S. dominates the Internet • Agenda set by American culture & concerns • Status Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  40. Access & Participation • Literacy & Education • Literacy rates & education vary widely across the world, even minimal or non-existent in many places • Internet discussion presumes that participants have a certain basic knowledge of the world • Discussion on an equal basis? Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  41. Social Issues • “Tragedy of the commons” • A useful public area attracts more and more participants, until the space is degraded and it fails to fulfill its original purpose • E.g. Usenet – many groups ended up with flame wars, trolling, spam, advertising, inanities, off-topic discussions • Elite groups rise Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  42. Social Issues • Question whether the increased contribution that lower status individuals have is a good thing (Sproull & Kiesler) • But, this assumption is rooted in centuries of similar attitudes against the concept of democracy Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  43. Social Issues • Myth & Symbolism • Questions the solely rationalist approach • Unconscious drives, desires, fears & conflicts underlie much public communication • Emotive, mythic factors should not be excluded from the public sphere • Integrate all aspects of our essence as human beings into our political debate Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  44. Conclusion • Direct participatory democracy Rheingold hoped for is highly unlikely even with the Internet • However, things changing around the world • Many factors to be considered and changed Alinta Thornton. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_2002_alinta_thornton.doc

  45. BREAK!

  46. INTERNET ELECTION VOTING

  47. No Internet Voting! • In 2004, neither the US presidential election nor the English local elections offered Internet voting options, despite the technology showing promise in earlier pilots • US security study: Internet and personal computer technology are fundamentally unsuited to a secure e-voting system • Vulnerable to cyber attacks http://technology.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1145669,00.html

More Related