Electronic Democracy

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Electronic Democracy

• Pol.Lt.Col. Siriwan Anantho, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor, School of Communication Arts
• Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

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E-Democracy Definition

• e-democracy relates to the online activities of
• governments, elected representatives, political
  parties
• and citizen groups
• The web sites of these organizations have a
  variety of
• functions, which include political or current
  affairs
• discussion, online consultation between
• representatives and their constituents, or they
  can be a
• free and non-partisan forum for discussion by
  citizens.

Kane, J., and Patapan, H., (2004) Challenge and
Promise of E-democracy. Griffith Review Online,
no 3 Autumn 2004 pp 201-7.
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E-Democracy Definition

• E-democracy, comprises the use of electronic
• communications technologies, such as the
  Internet, in
• enhancing democratic processes within a
  democratic
• republic or representative democracy.
• It is a political development still in its
  infancy, as well as
• the subject of much debate and activity within
• government, civic-oriented groups and societies
• around the world.

Wikipedia.org
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E-Democracy Definition

• Cyberdemocracy
• Digital democracy
• Teledemocracy

Wikipedia.org
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Different Types of E-Democracy

• Political web sites online
• Online consultations
• E-Voting

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Different Types of E-Democracy

• E-voting combines technology with the
• democratic process, in order to make
• voting more efficient and convenient for
• voters.
• E-voting allows voters to either vote by
• computer from their homes or at the
• polling station.

Mercurio, B (2003). Overhauling Australian
Democracy The Benefits and Burdens of Internet
Voting?. University of Tasmania Law Review, vol
21(2) pp23-65.
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Political impacts of ICT

• The remixing of existing content, sometimes
  called
• rip, mix and burn, making popular
  commercialized
• cultural products open to the general public
  to take,
• modify and distribute
• Breaking down of some of the traditional
  preserves
• of professionals such as control over
  information
• (citizen journalism), publishing and
  distribution
• (wikis or collaborative publishing online),
  or even
• personal services such as the use of the
  internet to
• access medical information or engage in
  online
• self- help

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Political impacts of ICT

• The ability to form new types of civic
  organization
• using technology, breaking down traditional
  barriers
• of place and time and
• The use of the technology to undertake specific
• political activities, such as voting or
  consultation
• online.

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Political impacts of ICT

• If information is power, then the internet
  clearly can
• act as a democratizing and equalizing force,
• providing individuals with a vast array of
  alternative
• information sources, accessible virtually
• instantaneously.
• In addition, it offers a forum to those who might
  
• previously have been unable or unwilling to
  engage
• in debate on issues of concern to them.

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Disadvantages of E-Democracy

• Populism
• Demagoguery
• Digital Divide

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Disadvantages of E-Democracy

• Flaming
• Privacy
• Censorship

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Eight Key Functions for Political Parties
Voter socialization Education
Mobilization Leader recruitment
Articulation
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Eight Key Functions for Political Parties
Channelling Aggregation of interests
Policy-making
Source The Democratic Audit of Australia (2006).
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Source e-Democracy Putting Down Global
Roots Janet Caldow Director Institute for
Electronic Government, IBM January, 2004