E-democracy
Democracy in the original sense signifies the reign of the people. The word derives from the ancient Greek word demokratia (demos = people, kratos = strength, power).
Generally speaking, by e-democracy one understands the use of electronic information and communication technologies for democratic issues. This breaks new ways of realizing and living democracy to the people.
Overview e-democracy
In a democracy, mainly information, discussion, and codetermination of the individuals play a decisive role. The internet allows the persons participating in the political process to do this on electronic ways (e.g. in forums, in blogs, etc.).
Parties advertise on the internet and promote their manifestos, but also people interested in the policy can catch up on this via internet. The discourse between politicians and between citizens, as well as between citizens and politicians is encouraged.
A constant improvement process is vital for every democracy; this process may not be hindered or prevented by the application of e-democracy. Basically, the internet offers good chances to propagate political goals, opinions, and convictions at low costs.
However, this also provides radical fringe groups the opportunity to call attention to themselves, which could lead to a radicalization of the political scenery.
Moreover, it is mentionable that the electoral advertising per internet is permitted, and that the official electoral web pages, however, must be free from electoral advertisings, because the constituent´s autonomy of decision must be assured.
Effect of the internet on the democracy
The following table from the book “Electronic Democracy” by Prof. Dr. Bernd Holznagel et.al. (Page 18) describes the effects of the internet on the democracy:
| Perspective of the citizens | Perspective of the policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Information | Call of political news Example: politik-digital.de | Supply of political protagonists Example: bundestag.de |
| Discussion | Discussions about policy Example: political discussion forum with Telepolis | Discussions with the policy Example: Online chats with politicians about party portals |
| Participation/action | Campaigns on the net Example: Genfood-campaign of Greenpeace | Debate on bills Example: Amendment to the data protection legislation |
| Interaction (elections) | Opinion polls Example: Polls of the European Commission | Elections on the net Example: Students´ Parliament in Osnabrück |
| Administration | Digitized administration Example: One-Stop-Government | Digitalization of administrative procedures Example: Government to Government |
Reference:
- Holznagel, B. (2001): Elektronische Demokratie – Bürgerbeteiligung per Internet zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis, Verlag C.H.Beck oHG, München.
Forms of democracy
Teledemocracy (cable democracy)
The idea of the teledemocracy already arose at the beginning of the seventies in the USA. Technical basis is the introduction of cable television. These copper coaxial cables should allow citizens to participate in the democratic development via so-called feedback channels. This two-way television should satisfy the call for more information and participation on the part of the citizens through elections and polls.
The teledemocracy pictured a step towards direct democracy. Direct democracy describes the state that citizens play a part directly in passing a law, political measures, and allocations of political offices.
Cyberdemocracy (computer democracy)
In Germany, this term is mainly referred to the paper by Krauch. For him, it is crucial to improve the political knowledge of the citizens through direct democracy. The citizens should give their opinion in the media available to them. Krauch advised mainly to the application of computers, because therewith information and news can be spread fast.
Also in the USA, the movement of cyberdemocracy occurred with the development of computer networks. However, this was not accepted positively by all, because the influence of money plays a subordinate role in the cyberdemocracy.
The more democracy is based on new technologies, the more important is it to regard the digital gap. It is a fact that the population develops to an information society; however, it is necessary to pay attention to whether also all age groups and social stratums participate in this process.
Reference:
- Holznagel, B. (2001): Elektronische Demokratie – Bürgerbeteiligung per Internet zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis, Verlag C.H.Beck oHG, München.
