Computers & Democracy

Computer Professionals & The Next Culture of Democracy

The growing gap between the elite, wealthy, and powerful groups in society and the marginalized, disenfranchised groups jeopardizes the factionalism founder James Madison felt was good for democracy. As Schuler (p. 1) asserts, "as the domination by large economic interests increases, thd idea of rough dquality that democracy represents becomes increasingly degraded." Factionalism argued that competing interest groups fighting for resources would result in a checks and balances system that would promote democracy. Until the advent of the Internet and World Wide Web, this system of democracy was in jeopardy. Connecting people symmetrically and inexpensively, the Internet is viewed by many, according to Schuler (p. 1) as the "dashing hero who will rescue democracy from its lingering malaise." Despite the perception of the Internet's utopian-like impact on democracy, Schuler (p. 2) warns that the this view is misguided, not supported by history's use of communication forms, and may not result in the promotion of greater "civic culture."

If Schuler looks with skepticism and cynicism at the potential for the ability of the Internet to promote democracy and egalitarian civic participation, he does so with good reason. For the author argues that one of the main reasons the Internet is viewed as the utopia of participatory democracy is because it is viewed as being immune to the "powerful economic, politi

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reatest impact of the Internet in civic participation and democracy is its ability to link inexpensively individuals from all socioeconomic classes and backgrounds, individuals who typically are marginalized with respect to having a voice in public policy and political campaign decisions. As was evident from the enormously successful grassroots Internet campaign of Howard Dean, the Internet has shifted the structure of American politics from a top-down, centralized paradigm to one that is organized from the bottom-up and decentralized. As Mack (p. 18) says of Howard Dean's success, "Over seven months, Dean raised more money than any democratic candidate for president in history, $40 million. Hnward Dean, a nobody from nowhere with no chance, used the Internet to basically in the course of seven months to become the leading candidate of the Democratic Party for president." Such success stories are part of the reason why Schuler maintains that many viewed the Internet as a dashing hero that will reawaken the principles of democracy and civic participation in American society. Nevertheless, such a view is misguided by the notion that the Internet is unlike other forms of communications or social institutions, something immune to

Category: Science - C