BY YVONNE REICHARDT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON 2008 Electronic Democracy

The enhancement of democratic processes with information technology. What is Electronic Democracy?

What is Electronic Democracy?

Ages of Digital Democracy 1950’s: Cybernetics – the beginning of the collaboration between computing technology and automated efforts and conflict resolution 1970’s – 1980’s: Teledemocracy - new initiatives in 2 major areas: TV and social links 1990’s: Internet - a cheap, instantaneous, and user-friendly medium

1950’s: Cybernetics – the beginning of the collaboration between computing technology and automated efforts and conflict resolution

1970’s – 1980’s: Teledemocracy - new initiatives in 2 major areas: TV and social links

1990’s: Internet - a cheap, instantaneous, and user-friendly medium

Main Visions of Cyberspace Politics Communitarian – social links Economical – power based on exchange of ideas

Communitarian – social links

Economical – power based on exchange of ideas

Sequences of the democratic process Related problems Information Discussion Decision Lack of transparency in political institutions The narrowness of the public sphere The insufficient citizen participation in public decisions Core Issues

Sequences of the democratic process

Related problems

Information

Discussion

Decision

Lack of transparency in political institutions

The narrowness of the public sphere

The insufficient citizen participation in public decisions

Dimensions of E-Democracy Information Discussion Online Decision-making and Participation

Information

Discussion

Online Decision-making and Participation

Main Assumptions on which e-Democracy is Based A very demanding conception of citizenship The myth of political transparency A democracy reduced to discussion The end of intermediary bodies?

A very demanding conception of citizenship

The myth of political transparency

A democracy reduced to discussion

The end of intermediary bodies?

Questions What sort of information do we need to be truly informed, and able to make rational decisions? How would NOT having intermediary bodies make a democracy better (or worse)?

What sort of information do we need to be truly informed, and able to make rational decisions?

How would NOT having intermediary bodies make a democracy better (or worse)?

References Thierry Vedel (2006). The Idea of Electronic Democracy: Origins, Visions and Questions. Parliamentary Affairs: UK Politics and The Internet - The First Decade, 59 (2), 226-235. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from ProQuest database. (Document ID: 1072719461).

Thierry Vedel (2006). The Idea of Electronic Democracy: Origins, Visions and Questions. Parliamentary Affairs: UK Politics and The Internet - The First Decade, 59 (2), 226-235. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from ProQuest database. (Document ID: 1072719461).