Original scientific paper
The internet as a virtual public sphere - Forums online and the limitations of an idea
Gil Baptista Ferreira
; Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, College of Eduacation, Portugal
Abstract
Taking as reference the deliberative democracy model, our aim is to assess the democratic potential of online discursive spaces to simultaneously characterize the communication observed within them. The main objective is to evaluate the promises and limitations of online forums, in an approach to technology that emphasizes the Internet as a platform for political participation, as a virtual public sphere. Considering the different types of uses that individuals make of these spaces, it seems that the online discussion forums do not meet the ideal requirements of the public sphere, suggesting explanations for online political apathy and lack of deliberative debate. We conclude with the prerequisites to tap into the Internet’s democratic potential in order to protect and encourage its opportunities for democratic deliberation.
Keywords
online; deliberative democracy; public sphere; communication; political participation
Hrčak ID:
65461
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2010.
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