Networks for Cyberactivism and Their Implications for Policymaking in Brazil

2018 ◽  
pp. 155-175
Author(s):  
Christiana Soares de Freitas ◽  
Isabela Nascimento Ewerton
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
First Century ◽  
Digital Democracy ◽  
Political Outcomes ◽  
Twenty First Century

Networks for cyberactivism have been developed in Brazil since the end of the 20th century. This chapter presents results of a three-year research about networks for digital political participation developed by civil society. The research analyzed 41 networks according to specific analytical categories to deepen the understanding about their potential to foster citizens' engagement in political initiatives and strengthen democracy. Several mechanisms that considerably stimulate a culture of political participation were clearly observed. Possibilities for political acting through those networks tend to narrow the gap between citizens' claims and government actions but that is not always the case. There is a lack of synergy between citizens' demands and strategic planning of public policies and other political outcomes. Some hypotheses are discussed to understand this context and reflect on the trends and challenges to digital democracy in the twenty-first century.

Networks for Cyberactivism and Their Implications for Policymaking in Brazil

Crowdsourcing ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 1363-1378
Author(s):  
Christiana Soares de Freitas ◽  
Isabela Nascimento Ewerton
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
First Century ◽  
Digital Democracy ◽  
Political Outcomes ◽  
Twenty First Century

Networks for cyberactivism have been developed in Brazil since the end of the 20th century. This chapter presents results of a three-year research about networks for digital political participation developed by civil society. The research analyzed 41 networks according to specific analytical categories to deepen the understanding about their potential to foster citizens' engagement in political initiatives and strengthen democracy. Several mechanisms that considerably stimulate a culture of political participation were clearly observed. Possibilities for political acting through those networks tend to narrow the gap between citizens' claims and government actions but that is not always the case. There is a lack of synergy between citizens' demands and strategic planning of public policies and other political outcomes. Some hypotheses are discussed to understand this context and reflect on the trends and challenges to digital democracy in the twenty-first century.

Introduction

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Robert A. Cropf ◽  
Scott Krummenacher
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Conceptual Development ◽  
First Century ◽  
Public Spheres ◽  
Political Outcomes ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact

As the second decade of the twenty-first century begins, information and communication technology has brought about significant changes in the way that people participate in political discourse and engage in civil society. This has led to a surge in scholarly interest in virtual public spheres, or the deployment of network structures to advance public discourse with the goal to influence political outcomes. This book brings together international scholars to analyze the impact of ICT on civil society, and in particular, the transition from e-government to e-democracy that is facilitated by virtual public spheres. Contributions to this book address several important issues ranging from the conceptual development of virtual public spheres to the challenges facing e-participation and e-government efforts. Several contributors to this book touch upon the conditions needed to facilitate e-democracy and the challenges confronting e-democracy efforts in developing countries. A little explored area of e-government, e-administration, is correctly identified by several chapters as potentially making contributions to e-democracy and virtual public spheres.

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