The argument in favor: Difference between revisions
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A well-functioning democracy needs: | A well-functioning democracy needs: | ||
*A Strong, Unbiased, | *A Strong, Unbiased, Informed Media | ||
**By aggregating potentially inflammatory/interesting stories, Global Voices raises the likelihood that one of those stories will become viral on the internet, or make the mainstream media. Therefore, GV gives a lone blogger the power to start the momentum that could solve the problem she writes about. | **By aggregating potentially inflammatory/interesting stories, Global Voices raises the likelihood that one of those stories will become viral on the internet, or make the mainstream media. Therefore, GV gives a lone blogger the power to start the momentum that could solve the problem she writes about. | ||
***The faster a story becomes salient, the sooner those who might be interested in stopping it can act. It's easier to stop human rights abuses when they're still small. | ***The faster a story becomes salient, the sooner those who might be interested in stopping it can act. It's easier to stop human rights abuses when they're still small. | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
**It becomes possible for an outsider candidate without an established political machine to spread his message. (e.g. Yunus) | **It becomes possible for an outsider candidate without an established political machine to spread his message. (e.g. Yunus) | ||
*Engaged Citizenry | *Engaged Citizenry | ||
**Democracy needs an engaged citizenry. Citizens become engaged when they come to believe there is a serious problem that needs addressing. Seeing is believing. The internet enables single witnesses to 'show' everybody else the truth using firsthand accounts, YouTube videos etc. Liars/bullies/tyrants lose plausible deniability. The citizenry mobilizes against what they now believe is a violation of rights. | **Democracy needs an engaged citizenry. Citizens become engaged when they come to believe there is a serious problem that needs addressing. Seeing is believing. The internet enables single witnesses to 'show' everybody else the truth using firsthand accounts, [http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/14/caught-on-camera-human-rights-video-on-gv/ YouTube videos etc]. Liars/bullies/tyrants lose plausible deniability. The citizenry mobilizes against what they now believe is a violation of rights. | ||
*Educated Citizenry | *Educated Citizenry | ||
**Citizens have to know what they're missing and what they want in order to demand it of their governments. Individuals can educate each other faster and more thoroughly using the internet than they could without it. Though the structure of the internet enables government censorship, individuals can [http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/14/access-flickr-iran/ circumvent those controls], enabling other citizens to be educated about things the incumbent government doesn't want them to know. | **Citizens have to know what they're missing and what they want in order to demand it of their governments. Individuals can educate each other faster and more thoroughly using the internet than they could without it. Though the structure of the internet enables government censorship, individuals can [http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/14/access-flickr-iran/ circumvent those controls], enabling other citizens to be educated about things the incumbent government doesn't want them to know. | ||
Revision as of 18:51, 14 February 2007
The Question
"Resolved: The Internet enables citizens to have a greater voice in politics and is, on balance, already a tremendous force for strengthening participatory democracies around the world." The students on both sides of this debate should use one or more explicit examples of the use of Internet in a campaign (issue or candidacy) to buttress their argument.
Tentative Arguments:
A well-functioning democracy needs:
- A Strong, Unbiased, Informed Media
- By aggregating potentially inflammatory/interesting stories, Global Voices raises the likelihood that one of those stories will become viral on the internet, or make the mainstream media. Therefore, GV gives a lone blogger the power to start the momentum that could solve the problem she writes about.
- The faster a story becomes salient, the sooner those who might be interested in stopping it can act. It's easier to stop human rights abuses when they're still small.
- By aggregating potentially inflammatory/interesting stories, Global Voices raises the likelihood that one of those stories will become viral on the internet, or make the mainstream media. Therefore, GV gives a lone blogger the power to start the momentum that could solve the problem she writes about.
- Fair and Balanced Elections
- It becomes possible for an outsider candidate without an established political machine to spread his message. (e.g. Yunus)
- Engaged Citizenry
- Democracy needs an engaged citizenry. Citizens become engaged when they come to believe there is a serious problem that needs addressing. Seeing is believing. The internet enables single witnesses to 'show' everybody else the truth using firsthand accounts, YouTube videos etc. Liars/bullies/tyrants lose plausible deniability. The citizenry mobilizes against what they now believe is a violation of rights.
- Educated Citizenry
- Citizens have to know what they're missing and what they want in order to demand it of their governments. Individuals can educate each other faster and more thoroughly using the internet than they could without it. Though the structure of the internet enables government censorship, individuals can circumvent those controls, enabling other citizens to be educated about things the incumbent government doesn't want them to know.
Examples to Discuss
- Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus is running for office, and trying to use the internet to harness the grass roots. Click here for more. See his open letter here.