Description
Book SynopsisThis book is a cross-national analysis of the role of the internet in national electoral campaigns. It covers an array of electoral and party systems throughout the globe from parliamentary to presidential, party-based to candidate-oriented, multi-party to two-party, and stable party system to dynamic party system. It takes a look at three groups of nations with varying levels of Internet access_those where internet usage is common across demographic groups, those where usage has reached significant levels but not widespread penetration, and those where internet access is still limited to a small elite. Each chapter is a study of a particular nation, focusing on its electoral and party systems, the accessibility of the Internet to the population, the nature of candidate/party usage, and the effects of the internet on the conduct of campaigns. By reviewing the findings from these studies, Making a Difference draws conclusions about exactly how the internet influences electoral politics.
Trade ReviewThere are two ways to explain the impact of the Internet on democratic process. One describes the Internet's role in specific situations. The second attempts to define the concepts that help us better understand this role. These collected studies do bothand do them very well. The volume allows the reader to visualize how and where the integration of the Internet into campaigns and elections has succeeded or failed and, even more importantly, to begin to comprehend why. The breadth of cases is valuable and expansive, representing countries and regions that have not often been studied. Each country case delves deeply into the respective campaign and election systems, providing an engaging and ultimately powerful snapshot of the contemporary state of the impact of technological diffusion on democratic process.. -- Kenneth Rogerson, Duke University
This book is an intellectual feast for all serious Internet scholars, especially comparativists. It describes and analyzes Internet coverage of election campaigning in twelve countries in the Americas, Asia, and Australia. A wide array of political communication issues take on new life when viewed from the perspectives of these politically and culturally diverse nations. -- Doris Graber, professor of political science and communication at the University of Illinois-Chicago and editor emeritus ofPolitical Communica
The Internet is a driving force in globalization—but as this thought-provoking anthology discloses, that doesn't mean internet-campaigning is the same everywhere. Explore the online politics of a dozen nations with the estimable tour guides of Making a Difference. You'll be invigorated by the voyage. -- Michael Cornfield, vice president of research and media strategy for 720 Strategies, and adjunct professor in political management at the George Wa
The analyses are generally competent and interesting, and the editors draw significant comparative conclusions from them. Recommended. * CHOICE, December 2008 *
A much-needed volume examining the Internet in context across political systems. The contributors make a big stride forward in identifying how properties of technology interact with features of political structure in processes of stasis and change. -- Bruce Bimber, author of Information and American Democracy: Technology in the Evolution of Political Power (Cambridge University Press, 2003),
There are two ways to explain the impact of the Internet on democratic process. One describes the Internet's role in specific situations. The second attempts to define the concepts that help us better understand this role. These collected studies do both and do them very well. The volume allows the reader to visualize how and where the integration of the Internet into campaigns and elections has succeeded or failed and, even more importantly, to begin to comprehend why. The breadth of cases is valuable and expansive, representing countries and regions that have not often been studied. Each country case delves deeply into the respective campaign and election systems, providing an engaging and ultimately powerful snapshot of the contemporary state of the impact of technological diffusion on democratic process. -- Kenneth Rogerson, Duke University
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 1 Chile: Promoting the Personal Connection—The Internet and Presidential Election Campaigns Chapter 4 2 Australia: Potential Unfulfilled? The 2004 Election Online Chapter 6 3 Singapore: Elections and Internet—Online Activism and Offlince Quiescence Chapter 7 4 Indonesia: Electoral Politics and the Internet Chapter 8 5 United States: Internet and Elections Chapter 9 6 Canada Chapter 10 7 United Kingdom Chapter 11 8 Spain Chapter 12 9 Belgium Chapter 13 10 Netherlands Chapter 14 11 Italy Chapter 15 12 Germany Chapter 16 Conclusion Chapter 17 Bibliography Chapter 18 Contributors
