Synopsis

The Internet is transforming political institutions and modes of political communication. It is also transforming relaitons between states and between citizens. Above all it provides opportunities to create new political communities. This book provides examples of how it is beginning to do so at the sub-state, state and international levels. Both established democracies, such as the US, the UK and Germany, as well as authoritarian regimes in Asia and Africa, are having to come to terms with it. But although it can be a force for increased democracy and for the spread of human rights worldwide, it may also be used by anti-democratic groups who have previously been marginalised. Both ethnic minorities and neo-Nazi groups are already trying to make the most of the Internet. "Strong democracy" or a 1984-type state: both are possibilities, both present enormous challenges.

Contents

The Internet, democracy and democratisation, Peter Ferdinand;
Paradoxical partners - electronic communication and electronic democracy, Beth Noveck;
Democratising democracy - strong democracy, US political campaigns and the Internet, Jennifer Stromer-Galley;
Revitalising the party system or zeitgeist On-line? virtual party headquarters and virtual party branches in Germany, Christoph Bieber;
The politics of African America On-line, Rohit Lekhi;
The neo-Nazis and Taliban On-line, Peter Chroust;
The Internet in Indonesia's new democracy, David T. Hill, Krishna Sen;
The electronic republic? the role of the Internet I promoting democracy in Africa, Dana Ott, Melissa Rosser;
Tibet, democracy and the Internet Bazaar, John Bray.