Downloading Democracy? Information and Communication Technologies in Local Politics

This article considers recent developments in information and communication technologies (ICTs), including the creation of a so-called ‘information superhighway’, and examines their relevance to the enhancement of democratic politics. The article begins with a brief overview of what is meant by the ‘information superhighway’ and what is distinctive about the technologies that comprise it. It then considers the characteristics of democracy and the ways in which information and communication technologies can contribute to their enhancement. It concludes by arguing that ICTs can contribute to democratic processes provided that a number of issues are addressed and barriers overcome

Democracy · Emerging technologies · ICTS · Information and Communications Technology · Information superhighway · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Relevance (law · Sociology · The Internet · Upload · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Law · Social Media and Politics