Social Sciences: Democratization and Networked Communication
Introduction, body, conclusion.
Double spaced, times new roman 12.
Word count 2500 words, word count does not include footnotes, bibliography citations and appendices. Please send me an outline of essay in 2 days so I can see what you have picked and advice with my teacher. Also after choosing the particular topic I will upload more books related to that topic. So you can write about that topic better. I would like you to write a thesis statement as well both in outline and in essay so I will know what the essay is going to be about also my teacher.
The final essay will be an opportunity for you to formulate original interpretations of the relationship between networked communication and democratization, drawing on the source material you have assembled in the course of the module. Please while doing the intext citations include pages as well.
The essay topic
With reference to issues and thinkers you have encountered on this module, critically consider the relation between democratisation and networked communication.
You have to address the set question on the relation between democratisation and networked communication by reference to issues and thinkers we discuss on the module. There is no mention in the question of you having to tackle all the topics or any specific topic. So, you can pick and choose those aspects that you found to be of most interest to you.
Weekly topics I also uploaded presentations of each week you can look and think which is suitable you to write and relate;
Conceptions of Democracy
Democratisation and Information
Risk, Reflexivity and Lifestyle Politics
Globalisation: Informational Underpinnings and Democratic Hopes
The Network Economy: Questioning a Democratic Ethos
The Deliberative Ideal: The Internet and the Public Sphere
Surveillance and Democracy
Democratisation from Below: From the Collective to the Connective Action of Social Movements
Hacktivism
Grading criteria:
Argument: Exceptionally clear, coherent and logical argument
THEORIES AND CONCEPTS: Exceptionally well understood and explained theories and concepts
CONTENT and READING: Exclusively relevant content. Accurate and insightful reflection of appropriate range of relevant readings.
ORIGINAL THOUGHT, ANALYSIS, EVALUATION: A lot of evidence of original thought, analysis and evaluation
EVIDENCE: Very accurate and insightful use of evidence
REFERENCING/ BIBLIOGRAPHY: Excellent referencing throughout with correctly formatted bibliography.
EXPRESSION, GRAMMAR, SYNTAX, SPELLING: Exceptionally clear expression. Consistently accurate grammar and/or syntax, excellent spelling
DEMOCRATIZATION AND NETWORKED COMMUNICATION
Course
Tutor
University
Location
Date
Democratization and Networked Communication
Abstract
This essay will explore how the internet has affected the participation of the public in politics. First, the concepts of democracy will be explored relying on the various works of authors who have explored democracy. This will be limited to online interaction where the public access information, generate, share, and comment, and express their opinions on contents that does not have any impact or participation on actual politics (real politics that is based on practical goals rather than ideological notions). The digital divide is an important issue since we are talking of technology therefore it should also be discussed in the essay. Although there are valid arguments from different scholars who argue that the internet has rekindled democracy, there is no proof that advancements in technology has led to democratization. Although the essay explores the aspects of deliberative and participatory democracy, the main argument will be based on democracy being understood as liberal democracy (Della Porta, 2013).
Definition of Democracy
For the essay to be explored in detail a coherent understanding of democracy should be done due to its different definitions from different scholars and it is open to interpretations. The definition of democracy is open to any interpretation depending on the context that one is referring to (Whitehead, 2002). Therefore, according to Tilly, "Democracy is power from the people, of the people and for the people: it derives from the people, belongs to the people and for people", (Tilly, 2007). Whitehead goes further to say that democratization "consists of progress towards a more rule-based, more consensual and more participatory type of politics", (Whitehead, 2002). Therefore, democratization is an ongoing process towards a participatory politics. In her book Can Democracy be Saved? Della Porta states that the definition of democracy has been focusing on ‘procedural criteria which mainly considered free, competitive and periodic elections’ as a justification for the existence of democracy in a country. This normative concept is democracy is not adequate thus she goes further to offer the models of democracy: liberal democracy, deliberative democracy, and participatory democracy (Della Porta, 2013).
Forms of Democracy
Liberal democracy
It is characterized by the fundamental procedural attributes of right to vote, fair and free elections, and representative institutions which are formed by electoral voting system (Whitehead, 2002). Therefore, elections are the main key to the definition of liberal democracy in which ‘"regimes that guarantee the right to vote to all citizens are thus democratic", Della Porta, 2013). According to Della Porta (2013) "Democracy here is conceived as the right of the citizenship to participate in the determination of collective will through the mediation of elected representatives". Therefore, in this model of democracy, power is vested on representative institutions since people are considered to be ignorant and incompetent to be given the power of running political affairs thus to mitigate any risks the electoral victors are given the authority of decision making (Della Porta, 2013).
Participatory democracy
This form of democracy encourages and advocates for decentralized balance of power since it argues that liberal democracy leads to imbalances in power as those in power exercises full control over the public thus unable to fulfill their promises to the public (Della Porta, 2013). For transparency and accountability, power is given to the citizens in which they are allowed to directly participate in key decision making at all levels. However, the citizens can only be empowered and engage in actual politics if they are allowed to directly intervene in political matters. This will create a balanced system since there are watchful eyes on wrong doings by those in power. Pateman (1970) and Della Porta (2013) argue that the more citizens get involved in decision making, the more knowledgeable they become and participate in elections.
Although liberal democracy delegates power from people to their representatives through voting, it fails to consider the diversity of the preferences of the citizens (Della Porta, 2013). Therefore, during elections the different views if citizens on their issues are not reflected despite that the each cote counts equally. Hence Participatory democracy seeks to address this difference by granting the citizens the power to participate in decision making (Della Porta, 2013)
Deliberative democracy
This form of democracy emphasizes on quality communication that will change the preferences of people through interaction in public sphere where the different points of view from citizens are central in the democratic process (Hebermas, 1989; Della Porta, 2013). Therefore, mere participation in politics is not enough; the citizens should be dutiful in every aspect in the society. Therefore, deliberative model of democracy differs from the other concepts thus being defined as a process that is view oriented that will arrive on democratically preferences through debates and deliberations among the plurality of arguments and opinions where the most important ones become the decider. Herbanas and Della Porta (1981; 2013) characterizes good deliberation by "horizontal flows of communication, multiple producers of content, ample opportunities for interaction, confrontation on the basis of regional argumentation and a positive attitude to reciprocal listening". Therefore, deliberative democracy seeks reach at a consensus, through persuasive debates (Della Porta, 2013).
Online Democracy
Although democracy is not technologically deterministic, it can be fostered by the virtues of easily accessible information that will only be affordable through the internet. This will ensure that the state is accountable since it will foster transparency hence the need for online social participation (Della Porta, 2013) The internet has improved the quality of democracy due to digital communication that has led to the concepts of e-participation where citizens express the political opinions through the internet; e-governance that has enabled the citizens to access public information and services online; e-voting and referendum where people can vote online; and e-democracy which has opened up for political participation online (Sanford and Rose, 2005).
Online democracy has fostered liberal democracy since it has facilitated greater communication between the elected representatives and the citizens. It has also given the citizens the opportunity to access information about the elected representatives, provide feedbacks and engendering transparency in the society (Della Porta, 2013). On participatory democracy, the online platforms has enhanced horizontal participation and promoted the number of information producers that has led to decentralized power structures (Dahlgren, 2009). However, on deliberative concept of democracy, there is improved quality of communication not only due to the amount of information sources that are available but also because of the plurality and diversity of their content. The internet has offered cheap and easily accessible information. However, the information is marginalized to certain segments of the society in expressing their views and engages in politics through online media (Wilhelm, 2000).
Loader and Marcea (2011) argue that democracy can be enhanced from equal deliberation between the policy makers, elected representatives and the citizens that is afforded by ICT. Additionally, the internet has facilitated greater participatory in democracy through the online platforms. The social media platforms have created virtual public spheres that have strengthened participatory democracy. Also, digital communication has empowered the citizens to participate in politics. They are armed with mobile devices that are web enabled and allow them to record and upload any unethical behavior by the representatives anywhere (Castells, Fernandez-Ardevol, Qiu, and Sey, 2009). This has increased transparency in the public since the elected representatives can be exposed if they are found abusing their delegated power.
Antiquated understanding of democracy
Many scholars have celebrated technological advancement while others have ventured to equate the various forms of digital technology with democratization. Loader and Marcea (2011) have argued that "democratic governance is could be improved through the open ...