Quiz 1

Why do we study Internet politics?

We study internet politics because content and activity on the Internet is becoming increasingly more politicized. New actors are using the Internet in innovative ways in growing numbers. Studying Internet politics aims to understand how this new communication medium affects politics.

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a decentralized network of networks which allows users to access and create content online using established standards and protocols.

What are push technologies?

Push technologies force content from producers to consumers who do not have much ability to control or influence the nature of what they consume.

What are pull technologies?

Pull technologies allow consumers to also be producers so that they can create and influence the content they desire.

Is the Internet a technology of Freedom or a technology of control?

Social determinists would argue that the Internet and technology in general is not inherently liberating or enslaving. Instead, the Internet has been used by individuals in ways which both promote democracy, such as in Scandinavia, and also to control information, such as in China. Nevertheless, the way in which the Internet has taken form in most of the world, due to the creation of certain standards and protocols which regulate how the Internet works, has enabled many users the freedom to explore and create content on the Web.

Putnam argues that the process of generational change in America has eroded the mass membership of voluntary associations and reduced (S… C… ), debilitating the ability of communities to work together to solve common problems.

Social Capital

We assume that parliamentary websites should ideally serve two primary functions in a democratic political system: Identify them

The top-down function of providing information about the nature and activities of the parliament and…

The bottom-up function of facilitating debate and communication from the public to members of the parliament.

What is Fragmentation thesis in the political communication studies?

Fragmentation is the polarization of thought and debate into secluded “schools of thought” or Internet cultures which, instead of promoting open argument, simply reinforce their own ideology. Individuals seek out “like-minded” communities and do not attempt to understand other perspectives. Forums become “echo chambers” instead of spaces for deliberation.

Define post industrialism thesis in Internet politics

Post-industrial societies have witnessed the emergence of new values and new non-material needs. These new values ignore traditional institutions and instead coalesce, often through the Internet’s communicative structure, around more specific and personal issues. Thus, politics on the Internet in post-industrial societies will see more engagement with special interest topics, such as campaigns against land-mines or genetically-modified foods.

What have you learnt from this course right now?

I have learned how theoretical approaches such as social and technological determinism attempt to explain the nature of the Internet and how this relates to the ‘democratic’ nature of the Internet. I have also learned of historical facts concerning the Middle East and the Internet, such as how Arab states have attempted to control and regulate information on the Internet, how Western entertainment is often easily pirated and distributed throughout the region, or how Moroccans are typically wary of purchasing anything online. The course has also taught me several skills in using such online tools as Google applications and blogs.