Electronic Democracy: Using the Internet to Influence American Politics [Paperback]

Graeme Browning (Author), Daniel J. Weitzner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1996

The Internet's impact on American politics has been nothing short of revolutionary. With a special focus on recent elections, this resource explains the social relevance of online democracy through various case studies. Among the topics explored are the emergence of online voting; how the Internet has drawn youth back into politics and the reinvention of political action; online privacy and how it will affect Internet politics; the common mistakes of Net activists and how to avoid them; and propaganda, hacking, and the dark side of online politics. Plus how the Gore Democrats and the Bush Republicans pushed the Internet envelope during the presidential campaign.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A practical guide to using the Internet as a political tool. U.S. readers interested in this book are also encouraged to consider The Great American Web Book, a compendium of government resources online.

Review

Electronic Democracy is the first practical guide to explain how anyone can use the Internet to become a player in the political process. Free of partisan bias, Electronic Democracy is based on extensive interviews with those who have combined the Internet and practical politics for both major parties, as well as for a variety of non-governmental organizations. In bringing together the experiences and expertise of a wide range of professionals and grassroots activists, Graeme Browning has made a road map for Americans who want to participate electronically in local or national government. Graeme Browning's expert and insightful online analysis of the role the Internet played in the 1996 elections is featured on the publisher's World Wide Web site http://www. onlineinc. com and is well worth the visit! -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 185 pages
• Publisher: Information Today Inc (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091096520X
• ISBN-13: 978-0910965200
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,501,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Informative, Gripping, Thought-Provoking, Motivating!, April 13, 2002

By 

Jim Moran - See all my reviews

This review is from: Electronic Democracy: Using the Internet to Transform American Politics (Paperback)

The Internet has taken on many important roles in recent years as a powerful communications and information medium. Apart from online marketing of businesses, perhaps no other part of our lives has been more influenced by the Internet than that of discussing politics and spiritual matters and making our particular points of view seen and heard by others.

Electronic Democracy (2nd Edition, 2002) written by Graeme Browning offers readers amazing insight of the powerful role that the Internet has played in transforming American politics. At no other time in American history have so many people been able to discuss issues that matter to them the most and actually been able to do something about changing the course of the American political landscape.

Throughout the book readers are presented with actual events - names, dates, places, and circumstances that led other people to take action. Readers will learn about political parties, special interest groups, and common everyday folks who took action to express their points of view and to seek change. The book describes in vivid detail the roles that numerous Websites, discussion groups, and e-mail campaigns had in electing politicians, removing certain politicians from office, changing laws, and affecting other matters of public policy.

The book serves as an excellent guide for becoming politically active in the American political scene - or for that matter, in any country around the world. Readers will learn how to mount their own grassroots campaigns - right from home. They will learn how to organize campaigns, raise funds, present issues, contact people, influence legislation, and to get the word out about their own particular causes - responsibly. They will also learn about the dark side of online activism - the abuses that have taken place to disrupt American culture. As they will read, dirty tricks are still very much a part of politics.

This is one book I couldn't put down easily. It's highly informative, gripping, thought-provoking, and will surely motivate people of all backgrounds and persuasions to become more involved in shaping the direction America will head in. It's must reading for anyone desiring to become an agent of change in American society. This book will help you get started today!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best on the Subject, April 5, 2000

By 

Tim Hundsdorfer (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Electronic Democracy: Using the Internet to Influence American Politics (Paperback)

Browning's book should be the first stop for on-line activists. There are so many authors out there proclaiming the internet to be the salvation of democracy that Browning is a voice of moderation. I would recommend this book as your starting point for internet activism.

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for motivated political citizens, May 7, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Electronic Democracy: Using the Internet to Transform American Politics (Paperback)

Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, Electronic Democracy: Using The Internet To Transform American Politics by Graeme Browning (Editorial Director, Internet Policy Institute and Associate Editor for "Federal Computer Week", a key publication for technology news in the federal government) is a fascinating, authoritative, and informative guide to politics on the Internet. The issues and topics covered range from using the World Wide Web for grassroots organization to making one's email to Congress count, to the history and future of online voting and polling, to online campaign resources and projections for the future. Electronic Democracy is a compelling and very highly recommended read for motivated political citizens who want to better understand the profound impacts that the technology of today and tomorrow has upon our nation's government of, by, and for the people!