"American Political Culture in the Information Age:
"Cyber-Democracy" Examined

by Mike Gustin

    Modern and future communications technology has the potential to revolutionize the very foundations of our political system. The growth of the Internet, like radio and television previously, has caused both great excitement and great consternation in the political arena. Regardless, the effects will be felt by politicians, interest groups, voters, and citizens. These changes range from the subtle, such as changes in campaign funding procedures, to very abstract ideas, such as "cyber-democracy."

    The idea of "cyber-democracy" means many things to many people. Many have theorized ways to apply new communications technology on local, national, and even international scales. Therefore, any examination of the topic needs to cover previous and current applications of the new media, as well as visions for the future. At the same time, it is important to look at how individual parts of our political system are being changed, as well as looking at system-wide affects. This paper will focus on technology, particularly the Internet, computer-mediated communication (CMC), and other interactive forms, as it has and will affect the task of governing the United States.

    Early attempts a cyber-democracy managed to achieve their rather limited goals. Though not as flashy as the future predictions, these efforts did increase the political knowledge of those that used them.

    Today, web sites have replaced the kiosks as electronic sources of government information. The World Wide Web is growing at a phenomenal pace. However, this growth is not uniform for all in our society. Well-respected "computer gurus," such as Don Tapscott, have bemoaned the growth of a "Digital Divide" between rich and poor. What we have today is a transitional society, where people, young and old, rich and poor, are moving online at different rates. This presents special challenges for government.

    Predictions for the future reveal a very different view of cyber-democracy. The foremost principle of theoretical cyber-democracy is a desire for a return to a much more direct form of democracy. Like the citizens of ancient Athens, some suggest that citizens living in a "cyber-democracy" would be able to cast votes on important legislative matters directly using personal computers, interactive televisions, or some entirely new voting device.

    The very nature of cyber-democracy brings to the forefront a long running debate in American politics over the nature of representation. Should elected officials represent the narrow interests of their district of represent their constituents as part of a larger whole? The theory of cyber-democracy has again presented a choice between these two roles. Extending the vote directly to the citizens is the purest form of the congress model as every person can represent his or her own interests. For those who see politicians as too independent, cyber-democracy is the ultimate way to restore accountability. Many, of course, disagree wholeheartedly with this opinion.

    The promise of cyber-democracy is not of radical systematic changes, but rather of restoring and building on our existing institutions. We can possibly reconnect people with their local communities, with others who share similar political views, and with those elected to serve us. We have access to unprecedented amounts of knowledge, we can express our views to people we would have never met, and we can gain from their individual outlook.

    At the same time, we need to take control of our futures. We can’t allow our communities to burn because we’re online reading about the Roman Emperor Nero. And we can’t take a defeatist look at technology. While it can’t be stopped, we can make it take us where we want to go.

Back To Top
Back to Cyberspace Home Page