Democratic Governance and New Technology (Routledge/ECPR Studies in European Political Science)

This volume argues that new information and communication technologies (ICTs) play an important role in the process of restructuring and redefining basic relations within the political systems of Western democracies. It demonstrates that ICTs will therefore be central to new models of democracy. The authors create an innovative theoretical framework to explore their argument. They begin with four models of democracy: consumer, demo-elitist, neo-republican and cyber. They then analyse a number of technologically mediated innovations in political practice (TMIPPs) in relation to these. Case studies highlight such TMIPPs as: * the use of websites by political parties * the development of electronic ID cards * the use of closed-circuit television * the emergence of virtual communities Each case highlights relationships within the political system, such as governance and public services, local government and democracy, political parties and the information society and citizens and the state. In this way the development of ICTs is shown to impact upon core concepts of political science, including democracy and legitimacy. Demcoratic Governance and New Technology brings together recent debates on electronic democracy and on crises of democracy and legitimation, thus offering a comprehensive reassessment of issues currently at the heart of political science. Jens Hoff, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Christine Bellamy, Nottingham Trent University, UK; Colin Smith, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK; Karl Lofgren, University o