Essay about Digital Democracy - 1436 Words

Digital Democracy Over the years the media has made citizens major role players in politics. Ross Perot opened eyes by putting the 1992 Election in the media and thereby allowing voters to become directly involved in politics. The Internet, the new form of mass media â€Å"has turned into a major political and media industry† (Grossman 16). Because of the rise the Internet has taken, the idea of direct democracy has risen. The foundation of direct democracy is in self-government. The claim is that the presence of the Internet will increase citizens’ involvement in political issues by allowing them access to more information. This is significant because it takes a look at the impact of technology on society and politics, as well by†¦show more content†¦Representative government is grounded in the Constitution. The Constitution was created to protect citizens from factious groups through the establishment of an extended republic intended to â€Å"diminish the chances that any one faction will gain majority† (Kamark Nye 29). However, it is still possible that citizens, as the majority, will tyrannize each other (25). Theorists contend that representative government is headed for direct democracy by way of the Internet. Essentially what will happen is that representatives will no longer be needed because citizens will be able to use the Internet to make decisions. Grossman contends that â€Å"the more power [citizens] have to control their government and to involve themselves in making its decisions, the better† (41). Over the years citizens have been obtaining information through the media, newspapers, and other forms of mass media. The issues that arise with obtaining information through these sources are that the government can easily censor them. With the Internet comes â€Å"vastly expanded capacities for data collection, for computation, and for automation† (Kamark Nye 22). In his essay, Applbaum expresses the need for increased intelligence with the increase of information available on the Internet (Kamark Nye 22). Basically, as the Internet becomes a larger resource for information, it will fall to the same fate as other forms of mass media and will therefor become more censored asShow MoreRelatedGender And Technology Has Become A Important Factor Within Today s Society1560 Words   |  7 Pageshas become a very important factor within today’s society, as it reflects upon the overlaps between gender, digital technologies and democracy. Technology has presented both genders in provocative ways that tends to lead to sexual harassment and then for political action to end gender based violence. This then becomes essential and fundamental to the working of and towards a healthy democracy. The term Cyberfeminism has been developed throughout the previous years as feminists who are interested inRead MoreUnfair Access to Information 884 Words   |à ‚  4 Pagestechnologies and services in the digital age for the poor, the elderly and other disadvantaged groups is currently a controversial topic. The purpose of this essay is to examine the hypothesis that access to information in the digital age is unfair. I will examine two refuting arguments and two supporting arguments. The counter arguments are the quality of government councils improved and benefit with minority groups, and the supporting arguments are reinforcement of the non-digital inequalities and replacementRead MoreAnalysis Of Daron Acemoglu And James A. Robinson s Novel Why Nations Fail1426 Words   |  6 Pagesdemocratic and create legislation to benefit the majority, while extractive institutions are authoritative and limit the benefits to a small minority (84-89). A country’s political institution affects the accessibility to digital literature because of the improvement it enables. Digital literature provides an accessible form of education that allows for people to not only research, but it also makes it easier to come upon a sense of self-identity. Additionally, it sets a foundation for the use of newRead MoreRe-Interpreting Internet Activism: A Study of Its Relationship with the Nature of State Introduction1130 Words   |  5 Pagesmass protests, its power in overthrowing the ruling regimes and its role in strengthening participatory processes. The digital media has played a crucial role in planning and executing protests, spreading information about the protests, creating a sense of shared community, forming a â€Å"virtual space† beyond the regulation of the state and inspiring viewers with ideas of democracy and liberalism. Therefore, this paper works on the premise that both political will and effective use of media are importantRead MoreThe Impact Of Online Activism On Hong Kong1606 Words   |  7 Pagesmany modern societies by allowing activists to instantly spread and deliver information to a broader audience. In t he digital age, activists can easily raise awareness, share videos and opinions through various online platforms. This new phenomenon of activism driven by media technologies has been widely used in Hong Kong to retain human rights, protesting for more autonomy and democracy. Given the ability of online activism to raise awareness and rally support for different political or social movementsRead MoreDemocracy And The Age Of Information Abundance Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesDemocracy in the age of information abundance: The impact of new technologies to our democratic political system Introduction Never before, in the history of time, has our ability to collaborate and communicate on a massive scale been so achievable. (Papay Timby, 2014) With the emergence of new technologies, there are more individuals that can have better access to media and information. Experts believe that to some extent it strengthens democracy as there are more numbers of individuals takingRead MoreThe Breaking Of A Hierarchical Society Through Technology Essay1185 Words   |  5 Pagesaligned with public goods, such as democracy, the internet is also letting major companies to manipulate society and the government. However, despite the fact that technology is helping corporations to threaten the liberty of society, technology is also serving as a threat to government control, hierarchy and monopoly as individuals have more access to information to educate themselves. Although companies are trying to appeal to consumers by promoting democracy, corporations are becoming a monopolizingRead MoreHow Technology Affects Social Movements And Activists Who Work For Democracy1618 Words   |  7 PagesThe Democratic â€Å"Globalization† Virus   Ã‚  Ã‚   Technology plays a major role in empowering social movements and activists who work for democracy. While governmental barriers are put around society in order to maintain control of the public eye, people tend to be blinded from the â€Å"globalization† truth that surrounds the first-world environment. Ian Bremmer’s â€Å"Democracy in Cyberspace: What Technology Can and Cannot Do for Us† depicts how technology has the inability to democratize nations without humanRead MoreAdvantages And Types Of Post-Based Interventions1217 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferent settings.† Online channels can be significantly useful to engage citizens and collect input. Face-to-face and group interaction is likewise valuable for driving discussion and co-creating solutions, particularly with those who are not aware of digital technologies. There are many examples of both used for diverse ends. As an example, online offline interaction is from a commitment in the Sustainable Districts and Built Environment Action Cluster which organized 14 sessions over four months,Read MoreGlobalization: A Threat To Democracy Essay1594 Words   |  7 Pagesglobalization are known to nearly everyone. Those who inform themselves learn that globalization also brings accelerating environmental damage, increased poverty, destabilized societies, a house-of-cards global financial system, and a severe threat to democracy. But even that does not adequately capture the scope of the globalization project. I hope it will become clear, as this investigation unfolds, that globalization amounts to an overall restructuring of the world order, a political rebuilding