Hi all,
I completed my PhD in Sociology in June 2008 within the University of Surrey
(UK). The focus of the research was on E-Democracy and more specifically it was
entitled - The value of using local political online forums to reverse
political disengagement. The abstract of which is below; if anyone is
interested in its findings please do email.
Kerill
Abstract
There has been a growing concern regarding political disengagement among
citizens within liberal thin democracies. This concern has brought about calls
for local political online forums to be used to support participatory and
deliberative democracy online to reverse this trend. However, little empirical
investigation has been conducted into what such forums can support in terms of
participatory and deliberative democracy. After an extensive review of the
E-Democracy literature three research questions were developed to examine the
value of using online forums to reverse political disengagement. A two pronged
methodological approach consisting of qualitative and two-phase quantitative
methods was used to examine these research questions, and to test specific
recommendations on how to build online forums.
It was found that, firstly, local political online forums cannot support direct
or full-participatory democracy and such forums are mainly situated within
liberal thin democratic models. Secondly, forums which are placed within local
government websites have a greater chance of being inactive. Finally,
non-government supported forums can support a type of discussion which
increases citizens’ participation in local political discussions.
These results taken together mean that local political online forums will not
reverse political disengagement. They do not fail because of some inherent
design fault, but because political disengagement is tied to citizens’ dislike
of liberal thin democracy.
Hi Kerill,
That is interesting, but at the risk of exposing my own ignorance, what
is a 'thin democracy', or even a 'liberal thin democracy'? And what
other sorts are there, which citizens might like more?
Best,
Sophia
Sophia Collins
Producer
I'm a Councillor
www.bigvote.org.uk <http://www.bigvote.org.uk>
I'm a Scientist
www.imascientist.org.uk <http://www.imascientist.org.uk>
Gallomanor Communications Ltd.
01225 869413
31 Silver Street
Bradford on Avon
BA15 1JX
www.gallomanor.com <http://www.gallomanor.com>
Creating Community Conversations
Gallomanor Communications Ltd.
Registered in England & Wales, No. 03980700.
Registered Address: Duckmead Cottage, Farleigh Wick, Bradford-on-Avon,
BA15 2PU
Kerilldunne wrote:
> Hi all,
> I completed my PhD in Sociology in June 2008 within the University of Surrey
(UK). The focus of the research was on E-Democracy and more specifically it was
entitled - The value of using local political online forums to reverse
political disengagement. The abstract of which is below; if anyone is
interested in its findings please do email.
> Kerill
>
> Abstract
> There has been a growing concern regarding political disengagement among
citizens within liberal thin democracies. This concern has brought about calls
for local political online forums to be used to support participatory and
deliberative democracy online to reverse this trend. However, little empirical
investigation has been conducted into what such forums can support in terms of
participatory and deliberative democracy. After an extensive review of the
E-Democracy literature three research questions were developed to examine the
value of using online forums to reverse political disengagement. A two pronged
methodological approach consisting of qualitative and two-phase quantitative
methods was used to examine these research questions, and to test specific
recommendations on how to build online forums.
>
> It was found that, firstly, local political online forums cannot support
direct or full-participatory democracy and such forums are mainly situated
within liberal thin democratic models. Secondly, forums which are placed within
local government websites have a greater chance of being inactive. Finally,
non-government supported forums can support a type of discussion which
increases citizens participation in local political discussions.
>
> These results taken together mean that local political online forums will not
reverse political disengagement. They do not fail because of some inherent
design fault, but because political disengagement is tied to citizens dislike
of liberal thin democracy.
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
>
> Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all posts
on this topic here:
> http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/RifOn7tAmjFOAsvcvgHN1
>
> For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> email <email obscured>
> with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
>
> UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
http://dowire.org.
And, if I may add to Sophia's perfectly reasonable question:
1. How did you discover, from your research, that it was this 'liberal thin
democracy' that citizens disliked?
2. What other forms of democracy are feasible? (That's not a rhetorical
question. Of course, other forms are possible.)
3. How many examples of exposure to various forms of e-participation/democracy
did your research explore?
Stephen Coleman
Professor of Political Communication and Co-Director, Centre for Digital
Citizenship,
Institute of Communications Studies,
University of Leeds
________________________________
From: <email obscured> on behalf of Sophia Collins
Sent: Fri 31-Oct-08 4:34 PM
To: <email obscured>
Subject: Re: [UKIE-EDem] Using online forums to reverse political disengagement
Hi Kerill,
That is interesting, but at the risk of exposing my own ignorance, what
is a 'thin democracy', or even a 'liberal thin democracy'? And what
other sorts are there, which citizens might like more?
Best,
Sophia
Sophia Collins
Producer
I'm a Councillor
www.bigvote.org.uk <http://www.bigvote.org.uk <http://www.bigvote.org.uk/> >
I'm a Scientist
www.imascientist.org.uk <http://www.imascientist.org.uk
<http://www.imascientist.org.uk/> >
Gallomanor Communications Ltd.
01225 869413
31 Silver Street
Bradford on Avon
BA15 1JX
www.gallomanor.com <http://www.gallomanor.com <http://www.gallomanor.com/> >
Creating Community Conversations
Gallomanor Communications Ltd.
Registered in England & Wales, No. 03980700.
Registered Address: Duckmead Cottage, Farleigh Wick, Bradford-on-Avon,
BA15 2PU
Kerilldunne wrote:
> Hi all,
> I completed my PhD in Sociology in June 2008 within the University of Surrey
(UK). The focus of the research was on E-Democracy and more specifically it was
entitled - The value of using local political online forums to reverse
political disengagement. The abstract of which is below; if anyone is
interested in its findings please do email.
> Kerill
>
> Abstract
> There has been a growing concern regarding political disengagement among
citizens within liberal thin democracies. This concern has brought about calls
for local political online forums to be used to support participatory and
deliberative democracy online to reverse this trend. However, little empirical
investigation has been conducted into what such forums can support in terms of
participatory and deliberative democracy. After an extensive review of the
E-Democracy literature three research questions were developed to examine the
value of using online forums to reverse political disengagement. A two pronged
methodological approach consisting of qualitative and two-phase quantitative
methods was used to examine these research questions, and to test specific
recommendations on how to build online forums.
>
> It was found that, firstly, local political online forums cannot support
direct or full-participatory democracy and such forums are mainly situated
within liberal thin democratic models. Secondly, forums which are placed within
local government websites have a greater chance of being inactive. Finally,
non-government supported forums can support a type of discussion which
increases citizens participation in local political discussions.
>
> These results taken together mean that local political online forums will not
reverse political disengagement. They do not fail because of some inherent
design fault, but because political disengagement is tied to citizens dislike
of liberal thin democracy.
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
>
> Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all posts
on this topic here:
> http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/RifOn7tAmjFOAsvcvgHN1
>
> For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> email <email obscured>
> with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
>
> UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
http://dowire.org <http://dowire.org/> .
>
>
-----------------------------------------
Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all posts on
this topic here:
http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/2grz8vciiftzrgRVlXwk6p
For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
email <email obscured>
with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
http://dowire.org <http://dowire.org/> .
The following file was added to this topic:
Hi Kerill
I'd be interested in a copy of your dissertation if possible
<email obscured>).
Without waiting for answers to Sophia and Stephen's questions, I think your
abstract raises a vital point - often overlooked (if mainly by politicians
raher than posters on this forum!).
While the Internet is giving people greater and better opportunities to engage
with 'democratic' processes, are they undertaking this involvement becuase they
want to achieve something worthwhile locally or conerning an issue they
passionate about, or is it because they want to get involved in
'politics'/'democracy'.
yes, the internet can increase levels of engagement with others, but I have
always held that post-Englightenment politics, it ideologies and institutional
structures are out-dated or at least becoming overtaken by a much greater
participatory democracy.
So I suppose what I;m saying is: yes, rthe interent is a powerful tool for
engagement and action, but it is a big assumption to presuppose people should
be expected to use it to support/extend the existing, unpleasent and
out-of-date politics we already have.
Simon
Subject: Re: [UKIE-EDem] Using online forums to reverse political
disengagement
> Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:39:34 +0000
> From: <email obscured>
> To: <email obscured>
>
> And, if I may add to Sophia's perfectly reasonable question:
>
> 1. How did you discover, from your research, that it was this 'liberal thin
democracy' that citizens disliked?
>
> 2. What other forms of democracy are feasible? (That's not a rhetorical
question. Of course, other forms are possible.)
>
> 3. How many examples of exposure to various forms of
e-participation/democracy did your research explore?
>
> Stephen Coleman
> Professor of Political Communication and Co-Director, Centre for Digital
Citizenship,
> Institute of Communications Studies,
> University of Leeds
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: <email obscured> on behalf of Sophia Collins
> Sent: Fri 31-Oct-08 4:34 PM
> To: <email obscured>
> Subject: Re: [UKIE-EDem] Using online forums to reverse political
disengagement
>
>
>
> Hi Kerill,
>
> That is interesting, but at the risk of exposing my own ignorance, what
> is a 'thin democracy', or even a 'liberal thin democracy'? And what
> other sorts are there, which citizens might like more?
>
> Best,
>
> Sophia
>
> Sophia Collins
> Producer
> I'm a Councillor
> www.bigvote.org.uk <http://www.bigvote.org.uk <http://www.bigvote.org.uk/> >
> I'm a Scientist
> www.imascientist.org.uk <http://www.imascientist.org.uk
<http://www.imascientist.org.uk/> >
>
> Gallomanor Communications Ltd.
> 01225 869413
> 31 Silver Street
> Bradford on Avon
> BA15 1JX
> www.gallomanor.com <http://www.gallomanor.com <http://www.gallomanor.com/> >
>
> Creating Community Conversations
>
> Gallomanor Communications Ltd.
> Registered in England & Wales, No. 03980700.
> Registered Address: Duckmead Cottage, Farleigh Wick, Bradford-on-Avon,
> BA15 2PU
>
>
> Kerilldunne wrote:
> > Hi all,
> > I completed my PhD in Sociology in June 2008 within the University of
Surrey (UK). The focus of the research was on E-Democracy and more specifically
it was entitled - The value of using local political online forums to reverse
political disengagement. The abstract of which is below; if anyone is
interested in its findings please do email.
> > Kerill
> >
> > Abstract
> > There has been a growing concern regarding political disengagement among
citizens within liberal thin democracies. This concern has brought about calls
for local political online forums to be used to support participatory and
deliberative democracy online to reverse this trend. However, little empirical
investigation has been conducted into what such forums can support in terms of
participatory and deliberative democracy. After an extensive review of the
E-Democracy literature three research questions were developed to examine the
value of using online forums to reverse political disengagement. A two pronged
methodological approach consisting of qualitative and two-phase quantitative
methods was used to examine these research questions, and to test specific
recommendations on how to build online forums.
> >
> > It was found that, firstly, local political online forums cannot support
direct or full-participatory democracy and such forums are mainly situated
within liberal thin democratic models. Secondly, forums which are placed within
local government websites have a greater chance of being inactive. Finally,
non-government supported forums can support a type of discussion which
increases citizens participation in local political discussions.
> >
> > These results taken together mean that local political online forums will
not reverse political disengagement. They do not fail because of some inherent
design fault, but because political disengagement is tied to citizens dislike
of liberal thin democracy.
> >
> > -----------------------------------------
> > Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> > http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
> >
> > Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all posts
on this topic here:
> > http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/RifOn7tAmjFOAsvcvgHN1
> >
> > For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> > email <email obscured>
> > with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
> >
> > UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
http://dowire.org <http://dowire.org/> .
> >
> >
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
>
> Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all posts
on this topic here:
> http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/2grz8vciiftzrgRVlXwk6p
>
> For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> email <email obscured>
> with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
>
> UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
http://dowire.org <http://dowire.org/> .
>
>
>
> UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange now contains the following file
>
> http://groups.dowire.org/r/file/929-2008-10-31T164414Z
> Name:
> Tags: "attachment"
> Type: application/ms-tnef
> Size: 6KB
>
>
> You can view all the file that have been added to UK and Ireland E-Democracy
Exchange at
> http://groups.dowire.org/s/?g=ukie&t=0&p=0&f=1
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
>
> Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all posts
on this topic here:
> http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/6avo4WLwk1z4z5aflXoMwD
>
> For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> email <email obscured>
> with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
>
> UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
http://dowire.org.
_________________________________________________________________
Discover Bird's Eye View now with Multimap from Live Search
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/111354026/direct/01/
Log onto the DoWire group, Simon. Kerill's uploaded a copy.
Thanks, Kerill: I'm looking forward to reading it.
Simon Smith
2008/10/31 simon collister <email obscured>>
>
> Hi Kerill
>
> I'd be interested in a copy of your dissertation if possible (
> <email obscured>).
>
> Without waiting for answers to Sophia and Stephen's questions, I think your
> abstract raises a vital point - often overlooked (if mainly by politicians
> raher than posters on this forum!).
>
> While the Internet is giving people greater and better opportunities to
> engage with 'democratic' processes, are they undertaking this involvement
> becuase they want to achieve something worthwhile locally or conerning an
> issue they passionate about, or is it because they want to get involved in
> 'politics'/'democracy'.
>
> yes, the internet can increase levels of engagement with others, but I have
> always held that post-Englightenment politics, it ideologies and
> institutional structures are out-dated or at least becoming overtaken by a
> much greater participatory democracy.
>
> So I suppose what I;m saying is: yes, rthe interent is a powerful tool for
> engagement and action, but it is a big assumption to presuppose people
> should be expected to use it to support/extend the existing, unpleasent and
> out-of-date politics we already have.
>
> Simon
>
>
> Subject: Re: [UKIE-EDem] Using online forums to reverse political
> disengagement
> > Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:39:34 +0000
> > From: <email obscured>
> > To: <email obscured>
> >
> > And, if I may add to Sophia's perfectly reasonable question:
> >
> > 1. How did you discover, from your research, that it was this 'liberal
> thin democracy' that citizens disliked?
> >
> > 2. What other forms of democracy are feasible? (That's not a rhetorical
> question. Of course, other forms are possible.)
> >
> > 3. How many examples of exposure to various forms of
> e-participation/democracy did your research explore?
> >
> > Stephen Coleman
> > Professor of Political Communication and Co-Director, Centre for Digital
> Citizenship,
> > Institute of Communications Studies,
> > University of Leeds
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > From: <email obscured> on behalf of Sophia Collins
> > Sent: Fri 31-Oct-08 4:34 PM
> > To: <email obscured>
> > Subject: Re: [UKIE-EDem] Using online forums to reverse political
> disengagement
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Kerill,
> >
> > That is interesting, but at the risk of exposing my own ignorance, what
> > is a 'thin democracy', or even a 'liberal thin democracy'? And what
> > other sorts are there, which citizens might like more?
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Sophia
> >
> > Sophia Collins
> > Producer
> > I'm a Councillor
> > www.bigvote.org.uk <http://www.bigvote.org.uk <
> http://www.bigvote.org.uk/> >
> > I'm a Scientist
> > www.imascientist.org.uk <http://www.imascientist.org.uk <
> http://www.imascientist.org.uk/> >
> >
> > Gallomanor Communications Ltd.
> > 01225 869413
> > 31 Silver Street
> > Bradford on Avon
> > BA15 1JX
> > www.gallomanor.com <http://www.gallomanor.com <
> http://www.gallomanor.com/> >
> >
> > Creating Community Conversations
> >
> > Gallomanor Communications Ltd.
> > Registered in England & Wales, No. 03980700.
> > Registered Address: Duckmead Cottage, Farleigh Wick, Bradford-on-Avon,
> > BA15 2PU
> >
> >
> > Kerilldunne wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > > I completed my PhD in Sociology in June 2008 within the University of
> Surrey (UK). The focus of the research was on E-Democracy and more
> specifically it was entitled - The value of using local political online
> forums to reverse political disengagement. The abstract of which is below;
> if anyone is interested in its findings please do email.
> > > Kerill
> > >
> > > Abstract
> > > There has been a growing concern regarding political disengagement
> among citizens within liberal thin democracies. This concern has brought
> about calls for local political online forums to be used to support
> participatory and deliberative democracy online to reverse this trend.
> However, little empirical investigation has been conducted into what such
> forums can support in terms of participatory and deliberative democracy.
> After an extensive review of the E-Democracy literature three research
> questions were developed to examine the value of using online forums to
> reverse political disengagement. A two pronged methodological approach
> consisting of qualitative and two-phase quantitative methods was used to
> examine these research questions, and to test specific recommendations on
> how to build online forums.
> > >
> > > It was found that, firstly, local political online forums cannot
> support direct or full-participatory democracy and such forums are mainly
> situated within liberal thin democratic models. Secondly, forums which are
> placed within local government websites have a greater chance of being
> inactive. Finally, non-government supported forums can support a type of
> discussion which increases citizens participation in local political
> discussions.
> > >
> > > These results taken together mean that local political online forums
> will not reverse political disengagement. They do not fail because of some
> inherent design fault, but because political disengagement is tied to
> citizens dislike of liberal thin democracy.
> > >
> > > -----------------------------------------
> > > Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> > > http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
> > >
> > > Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all
> posts on this topic here:
> > > http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/RifOn7tAmjFOAsvcvgHN1
> > >
> > > For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> > > email <email obscured>
> > > with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
> > >
> > > UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
> http://dowire.org <http://dowire.org/> .
> > >
> > >
> >
> > -----------------------------------------
> > Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> > http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
> >
> > Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all
> posts on this topic here:
> > http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/2grz8vciiftzrgRVlXwk6p
> >
> > For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> > email <email obscured>
> > with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
> >
> > UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
> http://dowire.org <http://dowire.org/> .
> >
> >
> >
> > UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange now contains the following file
> >
> > http://groups.dowire.org/r/file/929-2008-10-31T164414Z
> > Name:
> > Tags: "attachment"
> > Type: application/ms-tnef
> > Size: 6KB
> >
> >
> > You can view all the file that have been added to UK and Ireland
> E-Democracy Exchange at
> > http://groups.dowire.org/s/?g=ukie&t=0&p=0&f=1
> >
> > -----------------------------------------
> > Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> > http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
> >
> > Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all
> posts on this topic here:
> > http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/6avo4WLwk1z4z5aflXoMwD
> >
> > For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> > email <email obscured>
> > with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
> >
> > UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
> http://dowire.org.
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Discover Bird's Eye View now with Multimap from Live Search
> http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/111354026/direct/01/
> -----------------------------------------
> Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
>
> Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all posts
> on this topic here:
> http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/mTOZ6iXDPOwe4bYIKfW60
>
> For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> email <email obscured>
> with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
>
> UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
> http://dowire.org.
>
Sorry, Simon. I can't seem to find it. Where should I be looking (noob to the
forum)?
Here's the link:
http://groups.dowire.org/r/file/930-2008-10-31T173650Z/PhD.pdf
2008/10/31 Simon Collister <email obscured>>
> Sorry, Simon. I can't seem to find it. Where should I be looking (noob to
> the forum)?
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
>
> Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all posts
> on this topic here:
> http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/3SwotnWFkr39VlWQpycBZZ
>
> For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> email <email obscured>
> with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
>
> UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
> http://dowire.org.
>
Hi all,
Firstly, of all, please find attached PhD excluding appendices.
Secondly, within my thesis I define democracy as a decision making mechanism
and detail five sub-categories of it in relation to this definition. The five
categories are: liberal thin democracy, liberal plural thin democracy, unitary
democracy, direct democracy, and strong democracy. Liberal thin democracy is
the form of democracy used in Great Britain and comprises of representative
democracy and liberalism (free market economy). Please see section 2.2 of
thesis for a detailed theoretical definition of all five sub-categories.
Neither liberal plural thin democratic models nor unitary democratic models
were selected as part of this study as they fell outside the definition of
political as used within this thesis to define local political online forums.
Thus, liberal thin democracy, direct democracy, and strong democracy are
possible, but my research found no direct democratic models or strong
democratic models and all forums within the sample conformed to the liberal
thin democratic model.
Thirdly, there are two theories which explain political disengagement. The
individual rationality theory holds that citizen disengagement is not a
reaction by citizens against the liberal thin democratic system, but it is a
rational citizen reaction to a decision making process in terms of maximizing
utility. A liberal thin democratic system does not require all citizens, or
even a high proportion of citizens to partake in elections for it to work. As
long as enough citizens vote (ballots could be as low as less than half of the
electoral population) in elections then the system of liberal thin democracy is
sound. The second theory in this debate is participatory democracy, which
argues that political disengagement is growing because modern democracies do
not support strong participatory or direct democracy. In contrast to the
Individual rationality theory, this theory argues that political disengagement
is a disease of the liberal thin democratic model.
I agree with the latter, because research (see chapter 4 of thesis) has shown
citizens are dissatisfied with the current political system and are turning
away from it because representatives are unresponsive to them; the political
system does not support any form of direct democracy; and individuals are not
interested in politics because they do not identify with political parties or
trust politicians.
My own research has shown that it is not beneficial to build forums in
conjunction with local government because they are more likely to be inactive.
The reasons for this is that citizens expect to have a say on local policy
decision making in local government supported forums (as opposed to
non-government supported forums) but such forums are not facilitating citizens
to impact on policy decision making (direct democracy) and are perpetuating the
status quo (liberal thin democracy). Offline citizens are saying that they are
not satisfied with the current political system and online, they are less
likely to participate in forums rooted in it.
The following file was added to this topic:
Kerill
I'm no bona fide academic but what your research indicates is fascinating and
is something I have been saying for a number of years - albeit without
empirical evidence to back me up :)
> To: <email obscured>
> From: <email obscured>
> Subject: Re: [UKIE-EDem] Using online forums to reverse political
disengagement
> Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 06:45:02 +1300
>
> Hi all,
> Firstly, of all, please find attached PhD excluding appendices.
>
> Secondly, within my thesis I define democracy as a decision making mechanism
and detail five sub-categories of it in relation to this definition. The five
categories are: liberal thin democracy, liberal plural thin democracy, unitary
democracy, direct democracy, and strong democracy. Liberal thin democracy is
the form of democracy used in Great Britain and comprises of representative
democracy and liberalism (free market economy). Please see section 2.2 of
thesis for a detailed theoretical definition of all five sub-categories.
>
> Neither liberal plural thin democratic models nor unitary democratic models
were selected as part of this study as they fell outside the definition of
political as used within this thesis to define local political online forums.
Thus, liberal thin democracy, direct democracy, and strong democracy are
possible, but my research found no direct democratic models or strong
democratic models and all forums within the sample conformed to the liberal
thin democratic model.
>
> Thirdly, there are two theories which explain political disengagement. The
individual rationality theory holds that citizen disengagement is not a
reaction by citizens against the liberal thin democratic system, but it is a
rational citizen reaction to a decision making process in terms of maximizing
utility. A liberal thin democratic system does not require all citizens, or
even a high proportion of citizens to partake in elections for it to work. As
long as enough citizens vote (ballots could be as low as less than half of the
electoral population) in elections then the system of liberal thin democracy is
sound. The second theory in this debate is participatory democracy, which
argues that political disengagement is growing because modern democracies do
not support strong participatory or direct democracy. In contrast to the
Individual rationality theory, this theory argues that political disengagement
is a disease of the liberal thin democratic model.
>
> I agree with the latter, because research (see chapter 4 of thesis) has shown
citizens are dissatisfied with the current political system and are turning
away from it because representatives are unresponsive to them; the political
system does not support any form of direct democracy; and individuals are not
interested in politics because they do not identify with political parties or
trust politicians.
>
> My own research has shown that it is not beneficial to build forums in
conjunction with local government because they are more likely to be inactive.
The reasons for this is that citizens expect to have a say on local policy
decision making in local government supported forums (as opposed to
non-government supported forums) but such forums are not facilitating citizens
to impact on policy decision making (direct democracy) and are perpetuating the
status quo (liberal thin democracy). Offline citizens are saying that they are
not satisfied with the current political system and online, they are less
likely to participate in forums rooted in it.
>
> UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange now contains the following file
>
> http://groups.dowire.org/r/file/932-2008-11-01T174424Z
> Name: PhD.pdf
> Tags:
> Type: application/pdf
> Size: 1257KB
>
>
> You can view all the file that have been added to UK and Ireland E-Democracy
Exchange at
> http://groups.dowire.org/s/?g=ukie&t=0&p=0&f=1
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Group home for UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange:
> http://groups.dowire.org/groups/ukie
>
> Replies go to members of UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange with all posts
on this topic here:
> http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/5FpL4FySVF7kcLuhce4cgc
>
> For digest version or to leave UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange,
> email <email obscured>
> with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.
>
> UK and Ireland E-Democracy Exchange is hosted by Democracies Online -
http://dowire.org.