Digital Politics

Digital Politics & Power: The Dream of Democracy -Representative Democracy -Voting & party manifestos -Constitutions -Deliberative Democracy The Myths Of Internet We are on the verge of a new political era of computer-mediated democracy. Computer Activism -Activists set up computer system as community resource in Berkley California. The personal computer was developed by hobbyists. The first micro computer, the 'Altair sold in kit form. -Extreme utopiarism -Collective intelligence -Similar to Hobermass public sphere A Declaration Of Independence 'In our world, whatever human mind may create can be re produced and distributed infinitely at no cost' So why were the digital media greeted (initially) with such enthusiasm? Why are the media considered to be so important to democratic politics? The printing press as an agent of a change? Einstein notes in her synopsis to her book that aims to: -Describe 'The relationship between communications shift and other developments conventionally associated with the transition from medieval to early modern times. Print: A knowledge Bomb The connative effect of the changes in society focilated by print was that 'a knowledge bomb' explosion was set-off in Western Europe. Einstein argues that print was an agent of change that had an effect on: -Changes in religion through the reformation, challenges to the authority of the church. Characteristics of Social Institutions -Power (often expressed through concepts of control, ownership and access) -values (concepts of:legality, morality, customs, social norms and knowledge) Inclusion (concepts of: identity, exclusion, membership and representation.