S. Tyukhay-Lipskiy
The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
North-West Institute of Management
Political
participation of online community: the form of a civil activity
The development of civil
society is possible only under a condition of formation of the adequate
socio-political system, and the special importance here have a process of
development for Web space.
In the conditions of
formation in information society, it’s possible to observe the high-quality
updating of instruments for a civil political participation. Thus, the new
instrument of a political participation is – the Web, this can provide the
continuous dialogue of the power with representatives of the public which
represents itself as a resource which can change a political landscape
essentially . A Web, when it unites citizens, turns into analog of a civil
society, society becomes the accomplice
of a public policy and a source of updating of the power.
The line of a
transformation changes the information component of political activity. The
motivation of citizens to be independent and participate increases. The
Transformation from political activity into a real political participation is
observed.
The
online possesses a huge potential, but
this potential can be used in purposes which are aimed at the destabilization of the political system in the
country (Twitter-, Facebook-revolution), a few examples are a street riot
during the youth protest actions in the Arab countries, and a wave of meetings
in Moscow and St. Petersburg. As the world and Russian practice shows, social
networks become an important instrument in the management of the conflicts and
protest .
Growing requirements of
citizens to have tools of political activity, attract development of more
"free" forms of political activity, which are directly connected with
the development of communication tools and social Web which promote formation
of democratic processes.
According to the data of
international research company : since 2010 Russia has the first place in the
world by quantity of the Internet users visiting social Web[1]. The role in formation of a public opinion is
played by the social networks like "VKontakte" and «Facebook». Created
in January, 2012 a "League of voters", uses a platform «Vkontakte»
more actively. Moreover, the highest activity group «Russia for honest
elections», "RosPil", «the Petersburg’s Apple». The number of social
Web users grows every day. Communication is carried out by on-line social Web,
which allows to make active and mobilize broad masses in the shortest time, as
the latest political events show. Today's Experts agree ,that social Web become
the arena for public policy.
In modern Russia public
policy is carried out in the conditions of political Web. So the project
initiated by D.Medvedev – «the big government of the Russian Federation» was
the attempt of creation of a high-grade political network as new element in
system of public administration [2].
The project became the new system of interaction with the power and
society, with representation possibility in executive power of interests in
various social groups and public institutes, and attempt to include civil
society in process of adoption of the state decisions. Within the «Open
government» project the system is realized. The system is under construction by
a principle: «Open government» = «involvement of citizens», «The open
government» = «openness of the power».
The political Web is
urged to open the government before society, involving publicity of citizens and institutes of
civil society. In light of the latest events in modern Russia, there is research communicative the practician, used
by the state for establishment of relationship with civil society becomes more
urgent ,here investigating specifics of the Russian public space, it is
necessary to note that the dominating influence of the authorities, which is
filling a political field and partly the direction of development for political
Web.
The political structure
which is forming in a Web, is surely not democratic structure, appearance of
leaders of public opinion – online elite, concentrating the power in hands of
the group of persons, the new online elite is capable to supervise information
space, setting a vector of movement of online community. In researches of
political participation of online community there is no developed methodology
of the research, allowing investigation
of political behavior of the online elite and its influence on online community.
The structure of modern
political researches assumes development of a new methodology of the online
analysis of the policy, assuming search of synthesis of various methods:
qualitative and quantitative, static and dynamic, analytical and
interpretative.
Today's world and
Russian experience shows: the online community influences public policy, and
the involvement of civil society into political processes leads to essential
changes of the political system.
References:
1. Russia is the leader in number of the
Internet users. [Electronic resource]. Url:
http://www.digit.ru/internet/20120119/388720439.html (address date: 29.09.2012)
2. Open government. [Electronic resource].
Url: http://www. áîëüøîåïðàâèòåëüñòâîþ.ðô (address date: 27.09.2012)