New media and New media and Democracy Democracy

Does the Internet make any real difference to Does the Internet make any real difference to democracy?democracy?

GrahamYoung Executive Director National GrahamYoung Executive Director National ForumForum

3rd3rd June, 200 June, 20055

Who am I?Who am I?

http://graham.nationalforum.com.au/http://graham.nationalforum.com.au/

What motivates me ?What motivates me ?

And…And…

What is Democracy?What is Democracy?

“…“…government of the people, by the people, government of the people, by the people, and for the people…”and for the people…” – Abraham Lincoln Speech, 19 – Abraham Lincoln Speech, 19 Nov 1863, dedicating the national cemetery on the site of the Nov 1863, dedicating the national cemetery on the site of the Battle of Gettesburg Battle of Gettesburg

““Democracy means government by Democracy means government by discussion but it is only effective if you can discussion but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.”stop people talking.” - Clement Attlee - Clement Attlee Anatomy of Anatomy of BritainBritain (Anthony Sampson), ?1960 (Anthony Sampson), ?1960

“…“…democracy is the worst form of democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”have been tried from time to time.” – Winston – Winston

Churchill Speech, Churchill Speech, HansardHansard 11 November (1947), col. 206 11 November (1947), col. 206

““System of Government where decisions are System of Government where decisions are made on the basis of a vote of all those made on the basis of a vote of all those

belonging to that unit.”belonging to that unit.”

It involves:It involves:

A problem or needA problem or need Discussion/DebateDiscussion/Debate Resolution of the discussion into a Resolution of the discussion into a

proposition or series of propositionsproposition or series of propositions Determination of a majority position on the Determination of a majority position on the

propositionproposition Consent of the governed Consent of the governed ActionAction

The actors are:The actors are:

LegislatorsLegislators IndividualsIndividuals CommunityCommunity MediaMedia CourtsCourts Police and other enforcement agenciesPolice and other enforcement agencies

What is e-Democracy? What is e-Democracy? How is it different?How is it different?

““The medium is the message. This is merely to The medium is the message. This is merely to say that the personal and social consequences say that the personal and social consequences of any medium...result from the new scale that of any medium...result from the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each extension is introduced into our affairs by each extension of ourselves or by any new technology.”of ourselves or by any new technology.”McLuhan, Marshall McLuhan, Marshall Understanding MediaUnderstanding Media, Ch. 1, Ch. 1

““Backing into the future”Backing into the future” Graham Meikle Graham Meikle Future Future Active Media Activism and the InternetActive Media Activism and the Internet

Democratic “market” 50 Democratic “market” 50 years agoyears ago

Homogenous/ Mass MarketHomogenous/ Mass Market Loyal/TribalLoyal/Tribal HierarchicalHierarchical Relatively PassiveRelatively Passive Not mobileNot mobile Community defined by geographyCommunity defined by geography Decentralised and small scaleDecentralised and small scale

Democratic “market” nowDemocratic “market” now

Differentiated/Niche MarketsDifferentiated/Niche Markets VolatileVolatile FlatFlat DemandingDemanding MobileMobile Community defined by interestCommunity defined by interest Large scaleLarge scale

Technologies that have Technologies that have effectedeffected

the political marketthe political market

What is e-Democracy What is e-Democracy again?again?

The use of Internet-based technologies in The use of Internet-based technologies in the democratic process as a means of the democratic process as a means of communication, discussion, organisation, communication, discussion, organisation, influence, or decision making.influence, or decision making.

It is NOT “e-Government” which is the It is NOT “e-Government” which is the implementation of government implementation of government administration via the use of Internet-administration via the use of Internet-based technologies.based technologies.

Paradigms of e-DemocracyParadigms of e-Democracy Direct or plebiscitary democracyDirect or plebiscitary democracy Online CommunitiesOnline Communities Government use of online techniques as a Government use of online techniques as a

means of gauging public opinionmeans of gauging public opinion Online public engagement in policy Online public engagement in policy

deliberation deliberation e-Activisme-Activism Electronic News ServicesElectronic News Services((Points 1-4 fromPoints 1-4 from Bowling Together:Online Public Bowling Together:Online Public

Engagement in Policy DeliberationsEngagement in Policy Deliberations Hansard Society Hansard Society http://www.http://www.hansardsocietyhansardsociety.org..org.ukuk//))

How is internet likely to How is internet likely to change politics?change politics?

Increase market differentiationIncrease market differentiation Make electors more volatileMake electors more volatile Further flatten hierarchiesFurther flatten hierarchies More demandingMore demanding Increase numbers of communities of Increase numbers of communities of

interestinterest Scale will be less relevantScale will be less relevant

What are the advantages of What are the advantages of e-Democracy?e-Democracy?

Cheap to produce, publish and distribute Cheap to produce, publish and distribute materialmaterial

Interactive – vertically and horizontallyInteractive – vertically and horizontally Low barriers to entry and involvementLow barriers to entry and involvement Ability to target marketAbility to target market Lessens effect of geographical, sexual, Lessens effect of geographical, sexual,

physical and other disadvantagephysical and other disadvantage Able to be quickly responsive to eventsAble to be quickly responsive to events

What are the disadvantages What are the disadvantages of e-Democracy?of e-Democracy?

Clutter – too many sitesClutter – too many sites Lack of authorityLack of authority AnarchicAnarchic Difficult to find and classify participantsDifficult to find and classify participants Difficult to talk to the uncommitted Difficult to talk to the uncommitted Digital DivideDigital Divide Security and privacy of informationSecurity and privacy of information

How are governments How are governments meeting the challenge?meeting the challenge? Victorian Electronic Democracy InquiryVictorian Electronic Democracy Inquiry NSW Community BuildersNSW Community Builders Queensland Government e-PetitionsQueensland Government e-Petitions Senate will accept electronic petitionsSenate will accept electronic petitions Webcasting of federal parliament, hansard Webcasting of federal parliament, hansard

onlineonline US Environmental Protection Agency - US Environmental Protection Agency -

community consultation with 1066 participantscommunity consultation with 1066 participants English Parliament - bills up for scrutiny and English Parliament - bills up for scrutiny and

commentcomment Government Online Directory (GOLD)Government Online Directory (GOLD)

Democracy OnlineDemocracy OnlineEPA ProjectEPA Project

Large number of people participated, Large number of people participated, creating complex communication dynamics. creating complex communication dynamics. (This involved 1,166 people from all over the country. 40 (This involved 1,166 people from all over the country. 40 to 60 3.43% to 5.16% posting each day).to 60 3.43% to 5.16% posting each day).

Participants were highly satisfied with the Participants were highly satisfied with the process. process. (70% rated as positive while only 9% rated as (70% rated as positive while only 9% rated as very or somewhat negative).very or somewhat negative).

The process increased the number of voices The process increased the number of voices heard, but the voices were not necessarily heard, but the voices were not necessarily new.new.

Democracy Online cont...Democracy Online cont... Communication was good, but many found Communication was good, but many found

it difficult to participate.it difficult to participate. Participants learned much, networked a Participants learned much, networked a

little, and felt they would have some little, and felt they would have some influence on EPA policy and practice.influence on EPA policy and practice.

EPA accomplished its goal of garnering EPA accomplished its goal of garnering broader input about what it does right and broader input about what it does right and wrong. It also opened up new lines of wrong. It also opened up new lines of communication with the public, encouraged communication with the public, encouraged a few more formal comments on the Public a few more formal comments on the Public Involvement Policy, and generated some Involvement Policy, and generated some public good will.public good will.

Features of government Features of government effortsefforts

Tend to be only interactive to the stage of Tend to be only interactive to the stage of consultation (Jensen). Not much consultation (Jensen). Not much conversational interactivity, or conversational interactivity, or “intercreativity” (Berners-Lee via Meikle)“intercreativity” (Berners-Lee via Meikle)

ExperimentalExperimental TentativeTentative Not user-focussedNot user-focussed Project based, not on-goingProject based, not on-going

How are Australian How are Australian politicians meeting the politicians meeting the

challenge?challenge? Email (70% according to Chen)Email (70% according to Chen) Online consultation (64% according to Chen)Online consultation (64% according to Chen) 40% support online voting and 30% opposed 40% support online voting and 30% opposed

(Chen)(Chen) Political parties rate the Internet as equal or Political parties rate the Internet as equal or

best medium for getting their message out best medium for getting their message out (Gibson and Ward)(Gibson and Ward)

Mostly static information (Gibson and Ward)Mostly static information (Gibson and Ward) Amount of interactivity low. Prefer one-way Amount of interactivity low. Prefer one-way

communication (Gibson and Ward)communication (Gibson and Ward)

But…But… Helen Razer (ABC Presenter) couldn’t get Helen Razer (ABC Presenter) couldn’t get

one party, apart from the Greens, to respond one party, apart from the Greens, to respond to her offer of assistance during the last to her offer of assistance during the last federal electionfederal election

Liberal Party didn’t maintain its mailing list Liberal Party didn’t maintain its mailing list from its site properlyfrom its site properly

Only online consultation ALP did for Only online consultation ALP did for Hawke/Wran Review was on a Labor Hawke/Wran Review was on a Labor 21(Carmen Lawrence site apparently now 21(Carmen Lawrence site apparently now defunct) and defunct) and On Line OpinionOn Line Opinion

Prime Minister only responds to email via Prime Minister only responds to email via snail mailsnail mail

How are interest groups How are interest groups meeting the challenge?meeting the challenge?

e-Activisme-Activism Email (S 11, WEF, MAI)Email (S 11, WEF, MAI) Websites (Websites (www.www.ciscis.org.au.org.au, , http://www.http://www.

hizbollahhizbollah.org/.org/englishenglish/frames/index_/frames/index_egeg..htmhtm)) Portals (Portals (http://www.oneworld.net/http://www.oneworld.net/))

But...But...

Generally lack interactivity beyond the Generally lack interactivity beyond the registrational (Jensen)registrational (Jensen)

Lack of Promotion /VisibilityLack of Promotion /Visibility Strategic expertise lackingStrategic expertise lacking

What are other groups What are other groups doing?doing?

Minnesota e-Democracies (Minnesota e-Democracies (http://www.e-http://www.e-democracy.org/democracy.org/))

Indymedia sites (Indymedia sites (http://indymedia.org/http://indymedia.org/)) www.onlineopinion.com.au/domainwww.onlineopinion.com.au/domain www.www.onlineopiniononlineopinion.com.au.com.au BBCBBC iCAN iCAN e-Parliamente-Parliament

Meeting in the middleMeeting in the middle A problem or needA problem or need Discussion/DebateDiscussion/Debate Resolution of the Resolution of the

discussion into a discussion into a proposition or series of proposition or series of propositionspropositions

Determination of a Determination of a majority position on the majority position on the propositionproposition

Consent of the governed Consent of the governed ActionAction

Community

Government

What sort of public What sort of public spheresphere

Jed Miller – Jed Miller – Toward an Interactive DemocracyToward an Interactive Democracy

If citizens have become more engaged online, If citizens have become more engaged online, but remain isolated in narrow beakers of single but remain isolated in narrow beakers of single issues and circumscribed activities, then the issues and circumscribed activities, then the challenge for revitalising the public sphere is to challenge for revitalising the public sphere is to create cauldrons big enough to support create cauldrons big enough to support deliberative activity on a large scale, building on deliberative activity on a large scale, building on the power of compelling context, urgent popular the power of compelling context, urgent popular narratives and grassroots outreach to gather narratives and grassroots outreach to gather strangers, foster trust and describe prospective strangers, foster trust and describe prospective outcomes that motivate participation.outcomes that motivate participation.

National ForumNational ForumWhat is it?What is it?

Town HallTown Hall Public Open SpacePublic Open Space Shopping Centre/Market of IdeasShopping Centre/Market of Ideas Producers’ coopProducers’ coop Project to combine discussion and Project to combine discussion and

actionaction

National ForumNational ForumWhat are its benefits?What are its benefits?

Combines discussion and actionCombines discussion and action Community Owned - public, advocacy Community Owned - public, advocacy

groups, research/policy groups, groups, research/policy groups, politicians and governments.politicians and governments.

Information rich context - peripheral Information rich context - peripheral visionvision

Order e-Democracy clutterOrder e-Democracy clutter Give individuals and sites profileGive individuals and sites profile

Closing the loopClosing the loop

From chat to actionFrom chat to action Submission to Victorian eDemocracy Submission to Victorian eDemocracy

InquiryInquiry Background paper on petition sitesBackground paper on petition sites http://onlineopinion.com.au/petitionshttp://onlineopinion.com.au/petitions

ConclusionConclusion

Time required before new technology Time required before new technology substantially impacts on democracy:substantially impacts on democracy:

Radio - 40 years Radio - 40 years TV - 20 years TV - 20 years Internet - ?Internet - ?

How?How? The medium really is the messageThe medium really is the message Reinventing the PastReinventing the Past