Members of this list might be interested in the following paper published in
the current issue of 'ephemera: theory & politics in organization'
(www.ephemeraweb.org):
"Internet Activism and the Democratic Emergency in the U.S."
David Jacobs
Abstract:
The Internet renders efficiencies in political organization and
mobilization. Already, network technologies have assisted activists in
protests of corporate-led globalization, facilitated union struggles,
provided alternatives to mainstream news media, and generated a new on-line
model of political fund-raising. However, activists and elites both have
relied on the Internet, and the cumulative effects are murky. The US
presidential election of 2004 provides a prism through which to assess
Internet strategies as a means for non-management stakeholders to influence
the course of American politics. Republican party dominance of the
mainstream media and the three branches of government increase the
challenges of stakeholder organizing, particularly given the evidence of a
shift toward authoritarian rule. I intend to examine Internet activism with
respect to such organizations as MoveOn.org and TrueMajority.org; both of
which claim to represent workers, environmentalists, and allied
stakeholders.
To read the full article go to www.ephemeraweb.org/journal
Yours,
the ephemera collective
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