Political Participation in the Internet Era

Study on the South Korea Political NetizenSince 2002 to 2007

Agenda

• The beginning• The facts• The development of netizen• Dilemma of online political participation– Advantages– Disadvantages

• Suggestions• Conclusion

Current case studies

• Study on the South Korea political netizen since 2002 to 2007

• Study on some events of netizen.

The Beginning (1)

• The beginning in 2002– Roh Moo Huyn use internet-based group

supporting in president election 2002.– Provided supporters more DIRECT ACCESS to

information by using Internet.– Internet become major online campaign tool

(candidate's website, online campaign strategies).– Young civilian period, with age under 40, attempt

using Internet quickly.

The Beginning (2)

• The appearance of NOSAMO– 70,000 people before election– 80,000 people after the election

• Roh's website absorbed MILLION of people by:– Video clips– Messages– Audio broadcast

The Facts (1)

• Roh’s campaign was successful with fund raising, visitors donate money– Raised 7 billion won ($7.7 million USD)– Donation came from 200.000 individuals.

The Facts (2)

• The percentage age of netizens has changed and developed over years

The Development of Netizen

• The raise events of netizen in Korea after years– Red Devil supporters during the 2002 FIFA World

Cup.– Candlelight vigils in memory of two middle school

girls who were killed by a U.S. military vehicle (2002).

– The presidential impeachment and general elections in 2004.

– The Hwang Woo Suk scandal over stem cell research in 2005.

The Development of Netizen (2)

• Significance of the spread of "online citizen participation" after years– Getting new attention – Representative democracies– The creation of "electronic democracy".

Dilemma of Online Political Participation

Advantages (1)

• Improve the exchange and flow of information between citizens and political leaders.

• To achieve essential participatory democracy in which all citizens take part freely and equally.

• The model of political participation has changed from group-based to network-based individuals.

Advantages (2)

• To direct participation that comprises the establishment of agenda, mobilization of public opinion, and decision-making

• Presented the possibility of "rule by the people". (Which is the core of the democratic political system)

• Democratization and Informatization bring about a decentralization of the power structure.

Disadvantages (1)

• Public debates can be distorted through expanded reproduction of one-sided opinions without any filtering.

• Internet communication can create social vices that threaten democracy.– Emotional and sensational propaganda and

instigation– Indiscriminate personal attacks– Groundless rumors

Disadvantages (2)

• Speed and Anonymity may generate an ORWELLIAN "Big Brother" scenario and POPULISM.

• e-Participation does not guarantee the quality of policy outcome.

• An increase in political participation does not always lead to political development.

Suggestions

Suggestion (1)

• The political e-participation should be deliberately designed considering: – Purpose.– Target.– Role.– Power and method of online participation.

Suggestion (2)

• Online political participation can be classified into two models: – The government-initiated top-down model– The netizen-leading bottom-up model

Suggestion (3)

• Bottom-up model benefits– Advent of a new political culture.– Government provide a healthy structure for online

political participation. – Promote netizens' online political participation. – Promote a participatory political culture. (Base on

the appearance of a SMART MOB GENERATION)

Suggestion (4)

• Top-down model benefits– REMAINS an agenda-setting power in the hands of

the POLITICAL ELITE.– Avoid facing political inefficiency and populism.

Conclusion

• Online political participation should be developed by: – Maximizing the strengths of the two models. – Minimizing their weaknesses, disadvantages.

• Online participation model can start from:– Building the online public sphere.– Educating netizens.

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