Democracy in the Digital Age: Challenges to Political Life in Cyberspace [Paperback]

Anthony G. Wilhelm (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 22, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0415924367 | ISBN-13: 978-0415924368 | Edition: 1

"Democracy in the Digital Age" is a fascinating philosophical exploration of how the emerging information and communication technologies are impacting political participation in the United States. Rather than being the antidote to democratic ills, the political conversations occurring online are neither inclusive nor deliberative, suggesting that new technologies, as currently designed and used, are as much threats to progress as they are vehicles of progress. Wilhelm finds that there is often an appearance of progress, but negligible advancement of the human condition. He discusses the four features of digitally-mediated political life (resources, inclusiveness, deliberation, and design) and demonstrates the need for a strong public policy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Democracy in the Digital Age is a long-needed and masterful alloy of political philosophy, Internet politics, technological history, and basic empirical research. It helps dispel many of the myths surrounding the Internet, and it rings with a passionate commitment to more democracy in the information age.
–Gary Chapman, Director, The 21st Century Project, University of Texas at Austin

This is the most stimulating and carefully considered critique of the issues around electronic democracy that I have seen for some time. It powerfully skewers many of the more absurd claims of the new futurists and grounds the debate in the real world of political practice.
–Brian D. Loader, editor of The Governance of Cyberspace

Wilhelm's Democracy in the Digital Age has the most thorough and sensible review of contemporary thought on the social construction of technological construction of society.--Philip Howard, Northwestern University.
Democracy in the Digital Age provides a first-rate study of the problems and promises posed by a 'cyberdemocracy.' Wilhelm's analysis of online public life is empirically grounded and theoretically sophisticated. Anyone interested in the democratic potential of the new information and communication technologies should review his recommendations, particularly the proposed policy responses to America's growing 'digital divide.'.
–Timothy W. Luke, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

About the Author

Anthony G. Wilhelm is Director of Information and Communication Technology Research at the Tomás Rivera Policy Insitute, a national think tank that examines issues of concern to the Hispanic community. He also served as the Teledemocracy Project Coordinator at Claremont Graduate University's School for Politics and Economics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415924367
• ISBN-13: 978-0415924368
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,483,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fine Book on a New Topic, April 11, 2000

By 

David S Sather (Forest Grove Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Democracy in the Digital Age: Challenges to Political Life in Cyberspace (Paperback)

Since writing my thesis, it is hard to fine suitiable material that examines the entire framework of how campaigning is moving into the digital areana. Wilhelm's book is a great start on this emerging field. Complete with statisitcal graphs and charts, Democracy in the Digital Age is ready to answer questions that the reader may have on ecomonic status and how that plays a role on the Internet. The book also researches different communities and how they are addressing the growing trend of democracy moving on the Internet.

Unfortunelty, Wilhelm's expansion beyond the data is sparse as he his mearly reporting the evidence out there. The reader has the luxary of great data but having to come up with a reasonable response on where this is taking humanity.

Great data and supporting evidence presented in a dry academic fashion answering no 'what if' questions would best sum up this book.