1. Seminar New Media & Politics Prof. dr. Jeroen Van LaerNew Media & Politics #NMP

2. Introduction New technologies, new expectations Optimism and skepticism The optimists: Coleman & Blumler The skeptics: Margolis & Moreno-Riao The empirics: INTERMOB-study 2009New Media & Politics #NMP 3. Crisis of disengagement Globally there are more critical citizens, who value democracy as an ideal yet who remain dissatisfied with the performance of their political system, and core institutions of representative government(Norris)New Media & Politics #NMP 4. Institutional innovation A renewed democracy? Politicians: longing for a lost era of democracy and dutiful, informed citizen Citizens: frustration about limited ways of participation, low levels of efficacyNeed for inclusive and accountable institutions thatcan provide a space for consequential interactionbetween citizens and their elected representatives(Coleman Blumler)New Media & Politics#NMP 5. Democratic citizenship What is democratic citizenship? Legal/judicial component Political component Affective componentNew Media & Politics#NMP 6. Passive vs. active citizenship Incumbent democracy Critical democracy Legal/judicialDuties within specific nation Duties within and outside state constituted nation states Political Institutional engagements Unconventional engagements Affective Formal socializationSocialization in peer-networks Citizen Passive, top-down Active, bottom-up Policy making is too complex to fix it top-downNew Media & Politics#NMP 7. Discussion What does citizenship means to you? What does democracy means for you? How should democracy look like?New Media & Politics #NMP 8. The optimistic view The democratic potential of the internet Internet as an empty space New relationship between representatives and represented Depended on policy intervention Social constructivism vs. technological determinismNew Media & Politics#NMP 9. The optimistic view 3 assumptions There is more than elections Impoverishment of political communication Digital media has democratic, but vulnerable potentialNew Media & Politics#NMP 10. The optimistic view Democratizing characteristics Creation of active users of information Possibility of dialogue with large number of people Its cheap Online, there is timeNew Media & Politics #NMP 11. Discussion How would the internet and social media strengthen democracy and political participation?New Media & Politics#NMP 12. The sceptics Claim: digital media reinforces existing patterns and inequalities Cyberspace is replete with heavily advertised websites that mirror their prominence in the business and civic affairs in the real world (Margolis Moreno-Riao)New Media & Politics #NMP 13. The sceptics Roots e-democracy: New Left (change the institutions) Counterculture (create alternatives)New Media & Politics#NMP 14. The sceptics Influence 1. Politics within the internetMay realize democratic 2. Political use of the internet potentialLimit democratizing 3. Politics that affect the internet potentialNew Media & Politics#NMP 15. The sceptics #fail factors Closed groups (~ paradox of (in)tolerance) Promoting own interest, reinforcing like-mindednessNew Media & Politics #NMP 16. New Media & Politics #NMP 17. The sceptics #fail factors Closed groups (~ paradox of (in)tolerance) Promoting own interest, reinforcing like-mindedness No replacement of current mainstream institutional actors It is not about res publica on the internet Mainstream media dominates cyberspace The executive controls the information onlineNew Media & Politics #NMP 18. New Media & Politics #NMP 19. The empirics General conclusion Effects are diverse Small effects measurable in terms of frequency and nature of participation Technology is incorporated in existing structuresNew Media & Politics #NMP 20. The empirics the citizen More access, especially among youngsters Indirect impact on political participation But, a deepening divideNew Media & Politics#NMP 21. New Media & Politics #NMP 22. The empirics the activist Reinforcing diverse engagements Integration of social movements But, diversity at the expense of commitment? And, deepening divide Suited for information dissemination, but not for mobilization But, netto-participation rises?New Media & Politics #NMP 23. The empirics the social movement ICT reduces costs and time expenses ICT facilitate weak ties Network are more rapidly activated F2F is still necessary Differences between old and new social movements On a national and international level ICT fundamentally did not change anythingNew Media & Politics#NMP 24. New Media & Politics #NMP 25. The empirics the party/politicians Websites parties: preaching in the desert Mainly top-down information Only one element in a mix of communication possibilitiesNew Media & Politics#NMP 26. New Media & Politics #NMP 27. The empirics the party/politicians Ask Twitter Students New Media & Politics are asking: is Twitter changing the relation between politicians and citizens? #NMP #UAntwerpen Studenten New Media & Politics vragen zich af: heeft Twitter de relatie politici burgers veranderd? #NMP #UAntwerpenNew Media & Politics #NMP 28. The empirics - the government In Belgium (and Canada) there is no e-democracy Due to political/ideological choices Resistance due to the digital divide (inequality) Compatibility ICT and representative democracy? Compromise: e-consultations?New Media & Politics #NMP 29. New Media & Politics #NMP 30. New Media & Politics #NMP 31. Impact on participation+0- Netto-participation rises F2F-communication Deepening divideremains importantDiversity participation No revolution inSegregation risescommunication Speed mobilizationReinforces existing Weakening civil society rises institutionsNew Media & Politics #NMP 32. The seminar next week Session on new media and the dark side of the Internet New media and tolerance New media en censorship Practical exercise on participation and the use of new mediaNew Media & Politics#NMP 33. The seminar Session 27/02: new media & journalism Guest: Ivan De Vadder (vrt) Session 6/03: new media & civil society Guest: Dave Van Meel (Greenpeace Belgium) Session 13/03: new media & government Guest: Bart Rosseau (Stad Gent) Session 20/03: new media & political parties Guest: Philippe Bossin (Groen) First 1,5h discussion literature; second 1,5h our guestNew Media & Politics #NMP 34. The seminar Being a discussant Critical reflection Selection of topics relevant for discussionNew Media & Politics #NMP 35. The seminar Two assignments Group essay (Critical) report of one of the guest sessions Final session (27 March): presentations Individual essay Choose your own subject Only secondary literature, no empirical analyses! Possibility of small-scale case-study Max. 3000 words (without references)New Media & Politics #NMP 36. The seminar Examples 2012 The Media Law in Hungary Interactive policy making in the community of Spijkenisse New media use by Muslim youngsters in Flanders Web 2.0 opportunities for the local elections in October 2012 New media and protest: the protest paradigm revisited? The use of new media in election campaigns in Turkey New media and donations during presidential campaigning New media and democracy in China The Use of New Media on the Local LevelNew Media & Politics #NMP