The Internet And Democracracy

The idea of using the internet to supplement the governmental system has the potential to strengthen democracy around the world by provid

Rational, methodical discussions and decision making may be restructured by the new rhythms and speeds the internet allows and fosters. It is suggested that quality may be at stake as less deliberation and consultation are undertaken in new venues. While Jurgen Habermas states that civil society may be seen as a ‘sounding board’ for the articulation of political issues a government might address, Mark Poster points out that “rational arguments rarely prevail on the ‘net’, and achieving consensus is widely seen as impossible.” This is seen in the behavior of many users, especially where there is often a feeling of alienation or opinion that there is no accountability for opinions which are registered in the current style of democracy.

ing a powerful new force to assist public participation, communication, and representation. On the other hand, it can reinforce the existing divides by increasing the gap between the "haves" and "have nots". Whether or not the potential use of the internet will be used to deepen and

Some topics in this essay:
Internet Democracy, Mark Poster, Jurgen Habermas, democracy information,