pad 6710: lecture 4
DESCRIPTION
PAD 6710: Lecture 4. E-Democracy and Participation. E-democracy. Use of electronic means to promote meaningful democracy Strong democracy-deliberative, open decision making process Electronic platform as the “public square” Transparency - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
PAD 6710: Lecture 4
E-Democracy and Participation
E-democracy Use of electronic means to promote
meaningful democracy Strong democracy-deliberative, open decision
making process Electronic platform as the “public square”
Transparency Transparency refers to the openness of the
decision making process Public access to information Fairness in decision making
Accountability Accountability refers to taking responsibility in
decision making process Public oversight of decision making Justification by decision makers
IT opportunities for Democracy IT broadens public access to information IT can allow broader participation in interacting with
legislators Change.gov
IT allows citizen publicizing complaints more easily Praja, a nonprofit in Mumbai, India has an online
complaint system about public officials [see: http://www.praja.org ]
Fixmystreet: http://www.fixmystreet.com IT enables tracking the decision making processes
Emails, videos, other audio-video and written documents are permanent records that can be accessed more easily, increasing transparency and accountability
Emails of public officials are public records Recall youtube video of a senator calling a person
macaca cost him running for presidency
IT opportunities for Democracy IT enables more watchdogs
Many government and political blogging sites track the performance of government and elected officials
Nonprofit watchdogs Sunlight Foundation [http://
www.sunlightfoundation.com/] Govtrack [http://www.govtrack.us/] Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
(CREW): http://www.citizensforethics.org/ Government information sources
USAspending: http://usaspending.gov/ [President Obama’s renewed launch for transparency, which allows public access to budget data, allowing public access to data through Advanced Programming Interface (API)]
Gov 2.0: Adult social networking
Source: Pew Internet, 2009, Adults and Social Network Websites
Social networks as “public squares” Adult social network users quadrupled in
the past four years From 8% in 2005 to 35% in 2009.
While media focuses heavily on children’s use of social networking, adults still make up the bulk of the users of these websites.
Still younger online adults are much more likely than to use social networks 75% in 18-24 range; 7% in 65 or more
Most, but not all adult social network users are privacy conscious 60% of restrict access to their profiles
E-ParticipationE-CivicsE-Legislation
E-Voting
E-Campaigning
E-Activism
Layers of E-Democracy
Layers E-Activism
The use of electronic means to mobilize volunteers, raise funds, disseminate information, and otherwise pursue the various functions of interest groups seeking to influence public policy Environmental
http://actionnetwork.org/ Anti-globalization activism:
http://www.mcspotlight.org/ E-Campaigning
The use of electronic means to mobilize volunteers, raise funds, disseminate information and otherwise pursue the various functions of interest groups that seek to influence elections. Barack Obama raised most of his funding through
online campaigns Moveon.org
Layers E-Voting
The electronic means to implement voting or polling processes via the Internet or other networks, not necessarily limited to traditional political elections. Promoted by the America Vote Act 2002 Main concerns with e-Voting are sabotage,
lack of a paper trail, possibilities of machine malfunction, and voter fraud.
E-legislating The use of electronic means to enhance
the legislative process E-rulemaking
http://www.regulations.gov
Layers E-Civics
The use of electronic means to provide citizens access to agency information – most American already use e-civics functions. American Civics Center
http://www.americancivicscenter.com
E-participation The use of electronic means to encourage public
participation in governmental decision making or agency rule-making
Three forms: decision-making transparency email and communication e-Regulation
Digital Divide concepts Digital Divide
Divide: Certain segments of the population are left behind by digital technology – haves and have-nots
Inclusion: Concept to include allow computer and internet access to broader segment of population
Tracking digital divide and technology adoption Falling through the Net/ Nation online
Federal government reports between 1995 and 2004 tracked digital divide and technology adoption/ penetration.
Web address: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/anol/index.html Pew Internet Reports
Pew Internet, a nonprofit, explores the impact of the internet on children, families, communities, the work place, schools, health care and civic/political life.
Web address: http://www.pewinternet.org/
Digital Divide by Race/ Ethnicity
2005 2006 2007 2008
White 31% 42% 48% 57%
African-American 14% 31% 40% 43%
Hispanic 28% 41% 47% 56%
Broadband penetration by race/ ethnicity, 2005-2008
Source: Pew Internet, 2008, Home Broadband Adoption 2008
Digital divide is significant for African Americans. Broadband adoption was 43% in 2008, lagging far behind Whites.
Digital divide between Whites and Hispanics is not significant.
Digital Divide by Region Suburban residents are the most
users of Internet (60% in 2008, with significant increase over the years)
Rural Americans are the lowest users, with 38% in 2008 However, use by rural Americans has
been increasing very fast
2005 2006 2007 2008
Urban 31 44 52 57
Suburban 33 46 49 60
Rural 18 25 31 38
Broadband penetration by Region, 2005-2008
Source: Pew Internet, 2008, Home Broadband Adoption 2008
Digital Divide by Age
Internet Use by Generation
Percentage of Americans online by Age
Source: Pew Internet, 2009, Generations Online in 2009
Digital divide by Income Broadband penetration is very low among low-
income Americans (households with income $20,000 or below) [about 25% in 2008].
Broadband penetration levels is nearing saturation among upper-income Americans: (households with income $100,000 or or above) [about 85% in 2008].
Source: Pew Internet, 2008, Home Broadband Adoption 2008
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2005 2006 2007 2008
Under $20K
$20K-$30K
$30K-$40K
$40K-$50K
$50K-$75K
$75K-$100K
Over $100K
E-Democracy Hacking Democracy
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7926958774822130737&ei=On6tS4nGDZLmqgLclvTkBg&q=hacking+democracy+video#
http://www.hackingdemocracy.com Blackbox voting
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/