Topic 3: The Role of the Internet in Govt Decision-Making & Civic Engagement

 Do you feel that the internet has increased your ability to influence decision-making by local and national
governments?
 Has the internet made your local or national government more responsive to citizens?
 Do you think governments in developing countries should subsidize access to the internet by poor people?

1. There has been a fundamental shift in the attitude toward power and governance, shaped in
part by education and the evolving global socio-economic climate.
a. The rise of capitalism and consumerism in the past century has in some ways
empowered the individual and has promoted a greater sense of agency.
b. This extends beyond the marketplace and well into how people relate to each other
and especially how people relate to power.
c. The boundaries of the three spheres of society – state, market, and civil society –
have seen tremendous change in the past few decades.
d. Citizens are not just looking for political representation; but rather for a political
conversation or to be a part of a political conversation

2. The internet and the ancillary technological capabilities provides an avenue to channel the
tensions between civil society and state to constructive uses
a. Overcoming barriers to entry: Cost of engaging with governance has decreased
i. Referendum vs online activism
ii. Doesn’t even have to take the form of signing a petition or donating to a
cause; sharing news about a cause (slacktivism)
iii. Empowers/strengthens high risk activism
iv. Greater propensity to voice an opinion on issues close to heart (Galvanizing
effect)
b. Overcoming barriers to information: Cost of acquiring information has decreased
i. The internet has forged a digital global village that has an immense archive of
knowledge that can be wielded by anyone anywhere
ii. Mexico: Using social media to report information on drug wars and cartels
iii. India: ‘Paid a bribe’ website for reporting acts of corruption
iv. Humanitarian or disaster relief purposes.

3. BUT what about censorship?

a. While the Internet allows for increased information dissemination and awareness, a
constructive end cannot be forged from this flurry of activity unless the state engages
in a meaningful way with the civil society.
b. Governments that are accepting of alternative viewpoints, perspectives and criticisms
are essential to shape productive conversations that stem from the Internet.
c. The advent of the Internet and social media has “forced” governments to respond
and react to their citizens.
i. BUT in varying ways. (1) Connect and engage. (2) Censor and shut down.
4. BUT what about the digital divide?
a. There are entire communities that are disconnected from the digital global village.
b. This is also closely correlated with communities that lack literacy, nourishment, and
security.
 c. With regard to the question on whether the Internet should be subsidized, the point
to note is whether such an investment will be beneficial to the intended
communities. There is no one answer to this question as the characteristics of
developing countries are quite heterogenous.
d. Communities might be averse to investments in the internet:
i. Because it is not relevant to them (they are not literate/ have other needs)
ii. Because it requires skills training (seems so intuitive to us now because we
have grown with computer and the internet)
iii. Because they lack the resources to go with it, and the investment can be put
to better use elsewhere.
e. Agency of communities of interest
i. Do the communities want Internet?

5. Who should ensure the diffusion of Internet?

a. Perhaps the World Bank can ensure that the government does not oppress the
citizens with the very Internet that they are subsidizing.
b. But we have ignored a crucial member of the three spheres of society. Market can
play a huge role. Instead of forcing it on the citizens, it could be embedded into the
fabric of their lifestyle (adapting to what it is that they already engage in)

 Partial equilibrium and general equilibrium effects

o Disrupt established or traditional businesses