Comments on: Madison and the Smart Mob: The Promise and Limitations of the Internet for Democracy http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/09/15/madison-and-the-smart-mob-the-promise-and-limitations-of-the-internet-for-democracy/ Thoughts from the Internet and Democracy Project team at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:33:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bruce Etling http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/09/15/madison-and-the-smart-mob-the-promise-and-limitations-of-the-internet-for-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-1184 Bruce Etling Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:16:41 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/?p=252#comment-1184 Thanks for your comment, Rhesa. Sorry I have taken so long to comment. If one follows the poli sci use of the term "horizontal," then no, community organizations cannot be considered a form of horizontal governance. That relationship is reserved for checks and balances between formal government institutions. The impact of community groups is found in vertical processes (which includes voting), and also possibly diagonal processes where civil society impacts how government bodies check and balance one another. These diagonal processes seem to be a fruitful opportunity to expand the Internet's impact on democracy, but we had a hard time finding more than a handful of examples. All of this is not to say that vertical processes are not important, simply that it is only one of the ways in which the Internet might be able to impact democracy and governance. We'll post the conclusions on the blog and will create an H2O playlist (links on the right side of the blog) with the footnotes. Thanks for your comment, Rhesa. Sorry I have taken so long to comment.

If one follows the poli sci use of the term “horizontal,” then no, community organizations cannot be considered a form of horizontal governance. That relationship is reserved for checks and balances between formal government institutions. The impact of community groups is found in vertical processes (which includes voting), and also possibly diagonal processes where civil society impacts how government bodies check and balance one another. These diagonal processes seem to be a fruitful opportunity to expand the Internet’s impact on democracy, but we had a hard time finding more than a handful of examples. All of this is not to say that vertical processes are not important, simply that it is only one of the ways in which the Internet might be able to impact democracy and governance.

We’ll post the conclusions on the blog and will create an H2O playlist (links on the right side of the blog) with the footnotes.

]]> By: Rhesa J http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/09/15/madison-and-the-smart-mob-the-promise-and-limitations-of-the-internet-for-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-1101 Rhesa J Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:24:26 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/?p=252#comment-1101 The article seems to say that internet activism is not disruptive, i.e., does not change the structure or process underlying effective democracy. From the paper... "This suggests that digital technologies may help to strengthen democracy in those countries that already possess robust horizontal governance mechanisms." Can community organizations be considered a form of "horizontal governance?" p.s. Is there any way for you to post the conclusion and end notes as a seperate link. The article seems to say that internet activism is not disruptive, i.e., does not change the structure or process underlying effective democracy.

From the paper… “This suggests that digital technologies may help to strengthen democracy in those countries that already possess robust horizontal governance mechanisms.”

Can community organizations be considered a form of “horizontal governance?”

p.s. Is there any way for you to post the conclusion and end notes as a seperate link.

]]> By: Jim Brennan http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/09/15/madison-and-the-smart-mob-the-promise-and-limitations-of-the-internet-for-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-1055 Jim Brennan Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:32:10 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/?p=252#comment-1055 The internet will never be safe as a tool for democracy as it is too easily tampered with. As a way of getting info out - great, as a way of voting - not in this decade. The internet will never be safe as a tool for democracy as it is too easily tampered with. As a way of getting info out – great, as a way of voting – not in this decade.

]]> By: Health Care Reform: The Limits of the Internet « ajfortin.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/09/15/madison-and-the-smart-mob-the-promise-and-limitations-of-the-internet-for-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-1049 Health Care Reform: The Limits of the Internet « ajfortin.com Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:40:04 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/?p=252#comment-1049 [...] to the Internet and Democracy Project, Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.) Posted in Healthcare, New [...] [...] to the Internet and Democracy Project, Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.) Posted in Healthcare, New [...]

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