Award: Best Research Paper in "Interdisciplinary Methods" Category
In April 2014 I gave a talk at Loyola University Chicago, titled: 'Is the Internet Bad for Social Justice and Democracy." The talk was part of the Graduate School's annual symposium.
This paper won the symposium's award for best research paper in the category "Interdisciplinary Methods." Here is the paper abstract:
Is the Internet Bad for Social Justice and Democracy?
Asaf Bar-Tura
Abstract:
There is a prevalent notion that the Internet is promoting social justice, citizen participation, and a more flourishing and vibrant democracy. Many who claim that the Internet is “democratizing” politics often mean that the Internet is driving a redistribution of opportunities for political influence. That is to say, more people can get involved in civic and political activities, can increase their participation in the political public sphere, and have more access to positions in which they can influence public debate. This change, it is often claimed, challenges the monopoly of traditional elites over meaningful influence of the public sphere and the political process. So, can the Internet fulfill the promise of social justice and participatory parity?
My point of departure for examining this question is a deliberative understanding of democracy as normatively grounded in inclusive discursive procedures. This informs my understanding of the flow of communication and the circulation of power in the political public sphere, including the resulting processes of public opinion and will formation. Though this framework will not be the focus of the paper, its significance here is that it provides a normative theoretical framework and critical standard for assessing access to meaningful participation in democratic processes.
This paper argues that a close look at patterns of Internet usage (including social media) and the political economy of the Internet raise questions regarding opportunity for democratic participatory parity. This examination is conducted in three main steps: First (1), I discuss existing gaps (“divides”) in access to the Internet, in Internet usage, and in online usage skills. The analysis of these gaps shows how Internet and social media uses contribute to social stratification. Second (2), I examine the ways in which the Internet’s infrastructure (both physical and algorithmic) contributes to disparities in access to outlets for meaningful public expression. Third (3), considering the concerns raised, I argue that the Internet’s role in promoting social justice and participatory democracy is underdetermined. That is, distribution of access to online participation in processes of democratic opinion and will formation is not predetermined, but rather is a result of design. This means that the design of the Internet itself, and the applications we use through it, begs a public discussion based on democratic values.
This paper won the symposium's award for best research paper in the category "Interdisciplinary Methods." Here is the paper abstract:
Is the Internet Bad for Social Justice and Democracy?
Asaf Bar-Tura
Abstract:
There is a prevalent notion that the Internet is promoting social justice, citizen participation, and a more flourishing and vibrant democracy. Many who claim that the Internet is “democratizing” politics often mean that the Internet is driving a redistribution of opportunities for political influence. That is to say, more people can get involved in civic and political activities, can increase their participation in the political public sphere, and have more access to positions in which they can influence public debate. This change, it is often claimed, challenges the monopoly of traditional elites over meaningful influence of the public sphere and the political process. So, can the Internet fulfill the promise of social justice and participatory parity?
My point of departure for examining this question is a deliberative understanding of democracy as normatively grounded in inclusive discursive procedures. This informs my understanding of the flow of communication and the circulation of power in the political public sphere, including the resulting processes of public opinion and will formation. Though this framework will not be the focus of the paper, its significance here is that it provides a normative theoretical framework and critical standard for assessing access to meaningful participation in democratic processes.
This paper argues that a close look at patterns of Internet usage (including social media) and the political economy of the Internet raise questions regarding opportunity for democratic participatory parity. This examination is conducted in three main steps: First (1), I discuss existing gaps (“divides”) in access to the Internet, in Internet usage, and in online usage skills. The analysis of these gaps shows how Internet and social media uses contribute to social stratification. Second (2), I examine the ways in which the Internet’s infrastructure (both physical and algorithmic) contributes to disparities in access to outlets for meaningful public expression. Third (3), considering the concerns raised, I argue that the Internet’s role in promoting social justice and participatory democracy is underdetermined. That is, distribution of access to online participation in processes of democratic opinion and will formation is not predetermined, but rather is a result of design. This means that the design of the Internet itself, and the applications we use through it, begs a public discussion based on democratic values.