It is an older paper written by me and Dace Aizstrauta in ICTE in Regional Development, 2008 but I decided to post it here anyway.
Due to easier internet access and rapid adoption of the second generation web applications (Web 2.0) there has been an increase in different user-created web participation projects. Because of their unconventional style and vibrancy one has to examine these projects into coherent manner. The aim of this article is to examine web-based forms of individualized political participation in the context of electronic democracy (e-democracy). In this article we argue that while web-based forms of individualized political expression provide relevant outlet for alternative voices and unconventional forms of political expression which are critical of government, there is a need for more sustainable and inclusive web participation infrastructures which connect public institutions, groups and individuals. The first part of the article introduces the concepts of individualized political participation, and electronic democracy. The second part describes several cases of individualized political expression on Latvian web. The third part describes the findings in the light of e-democracy development scenarios. Download PDF here.
To quote:
Due to easier internet access and rapid adoption of the second generation web applications (Web 2.0) there has been an increase in different user-created web participation projects. Because of their unconventional style and vibrancy one has to examine these projects into coherent manner. The aim of this article is to examine web-based forms of individualized political participation in the context of electronic democracy (e-democracy). In this article we argue that while web-based forms of individualized political expression provide relevant outlet for alternative voices and unconventional forms of political expression which are critical of government, there is a need for more sustainable and inclusive web participation infrastructures which connect public institutions, groups and individuals. The first part of the article introduces the concepts of individualized political participation, and electronic democracy. The second part describes several cases of individualized political expression on Latvian web. The third part describes the findings in the light of e-democracy development scenarios. Download PDF here.
To quote:
Valtenbergs, V., Aizstrauta, D. (2008) Individualized forms of internet political participation: The Case of Latvian Online Activism and Populist Electronic Democracy. ICTE in Regional Development. Valmiera: Vidzeme University College, Sociotechnical Systems Engineering Institute, pp. 1-9. ISBN 9984-633-13-6.
