Is this local e-democracy? How the online sphere of influence shaped local politics. Empirical evidence from the Manchester Congestion Charge referendum

Abstract

<jats:p> The debate on the potential of the internet to transform democratic practice appears to have settled around a balanced, empirically driven consensus that sees the internet as a political sphere of influence. This article acknowledges this and drawing upon a network ethnography approach provides empirical evidence demonstrating how this online sphere was used to influence the recent Manchester Congestion Charge referendum in the UK. It illustrates the online sphere as a locally contested political space where ‘politics as usual’ appears to prevail. Nonetheless, it also provides evidence of civic activists ably using the online network to get their voices heard and argues that prospects for this online sphere enhancing local democracy are in fact contingent upon the agency of these activists and local policy makers. </jats:p>

Hacia una educación para la ciudadanía digital crítica y activa en la universidad.

“…Otros tópicos también frecuentes fueron la solidaridad, la defensa pacífica de derechos, estrategias y habilidades técnicas, conocimiento y comprensión crítica. Las buenas prácticas en ECD responden a necesidades identificadas y concretas (Aristizábal y Cruz, 2018; Blevins, LeCompte and Wells, 2014;Gleason and Von Gillern, 2018;Hepburn, 2012;Kim and Choi, 2018;Maier, 2012), combinan actividades en el mundo digital con actividades en el contexto local (Gleason and Von Gillern, 2018; González-Patiño, Esteban-Guitart y San Gregorio 2017), se incorporan en diversas áreas curriculares ( Gleason and Von Gillern, 2018;O`Brien, 2010;Xu, Yang, MacLeod and Zhu, 2018) y permiten prácticas productivas de educación híbrida con aportaciones desde diversos contextos y culturas alrededor del planeta .…”

Social Media and Political Participation: An Investigation of Small Scale Activism in Greece

“…Despite the general and persisting trends regarding global and regional digital inequality (Loader, 1998;ITU, 2012;Leontidou, Afouxenidis, et al, 2013), during the first decade of the 21 st century, social networks have become integrated into everyday life and practice for millions of people and organizations around the world. A significant number of theoretical and empirical studies in the social sciences are starting to form a picture of how this widely spread form of communication affects constitutional democracy and political participation (Graham & Martin, 1996;Gustafsson, 2012;Harlow, 2012;Hepburn, 2012;Fuchs, 2012;Castells, 2012;Bakardjieva, Svensson, & Skoric, 2012) and possibly transforms the rules and methods of political engagement.…”

Communication and governance challenges in Greater Manchester's 'congestion charge' referendum

“…the claims that the groups thought would help them achieve their goal -as representative. Hepburn [48] looked at the ways in which the referendum was discussed in online forums, for example. He noted the ways in which 'no' campaigners had been observed "'supporting each other online' and endorsing others' comments and 'harassing' any 'Yes' campaigners who came online" [48 pp60].…”

“…He noted the ways in which 'no' campaigners had been observed "'supporting each other online' and endorsing others' comments and 'harassing' any 'Yes' campaigners who came online" [48 pp60]. In fact, a 'No' activist associated with the manchestertolltax.com website acknowledged to him that 'they had organised their supporters from across the country' [48] to interact with this debate.…”

“…Hepburn [48], in his analysis of online discussions, observed that 'the exercise of political power being wielded by dominant economic interests' had muted the voices of, in his example, environmental campaigners, and notes that 'this undoubtedly helped to deprive the civic debate of an important environmental dimension.' Whilst businesses have a legitimate voice on policy in a city region, this example highlights the sometimes opaque nature of their interventions and the need for a good understanding of the 'behind the scenes' influences on policy and decision-making.…”