Online Participation and Mobilisation in Britain: Hype, Hope and Reality

Does Internet Use Affect Engagement? A Meta-Analysis of Research

“…Another group argues that the Internet could mobilize politically inactive populations (Barber, 2001;Delli Carpini, 2000;Krueger, 2002;Ward, Gibson, & Lusoli, 2003;Weber et al, 2003). The convenience of the Internet may entice a broader set of citizens to 195 engage in politics.…”

“…They are highly skilled and intense users of this medium, increasing the potential for a significant effect of Internet use on engagement. Both groups agree that the Internet may reinvigorate civic life by increasing access to political information, facilitating political discussion, developing social networks, and offering an alternative venue for political expression and engagement (Polat, 2005;Ward et al, 2003). Both groups challenge the view that the Internet will contribute to civic decline.…”

Party Activism in the Internet Era: Testing for Reinforcement and Mobilization

“…Certain characteristics of organizations may give them an advantage in the online environment (Ward, Gibson and Lusoli, 2003). Decentralized organizations with loose ties and nonhierarchical structures -such as protest or advocate organizations --have been proved to be more efficient at mobilizing people online than centralized and more hierarchical organizations.…”

Electronic Business

“…Some see a potential transformation in the effectiveness of democracy in the ability of citizens to interact with their government representatives through the new electronic means of communication (Berra, 2003;Chadwick 2003;Ward, Gibson, & Lusoli, 2003). E-mail (like the telephone before it) potentially enables closer contact between citizens and elected representatives.…”