The political web : media, participation and alternative democracy/ Peter Dahlgren, Lund University, Sweden

Includes bibliographical references (pages 178-192) and index.

"As democracy encounters increasing difficulties, many citizens are turning to the domain of alternative politics, and in so doing, making considerable use of the Web and other new communication technologies. Clearly this is having significant impact, and we see that new modes of political participation and even political cultures are emerging. Yet, we would be foolish to expect some simple 'techno-fix' for democracy; its problems are more complex than that. This volume analyses various factors that shape such Web-facilitated participation, including features of the Web itself as well as broader societal realities. Avoiding simplistic optimism or pessimism, the discussion highlights the tensions and force-fields that impact on participation. The presentation also addresses several key topics in regard to citizens' engagement, such as civic subjectivity, web intellectuals, and cosmopolitanism. While anchored in an extensive literature and wide theoretical vistas, the book is written in a clear and accessible style"-- Provided by publisher.

Machine generated contents note: -- Introduction PART I: Conceptualising Politics and Participation on the Web 1. Opportunities, Resources and Subjectivity: Citizens and the Social Web 2. Social Media and the Parameters of Participation 3. Mediated Citizenship: Navigating Reefs, Storms, and Currents PART II: Evolving Forms and Practices4. The Occupy Wall Street Movement as Online 'Produsers' 5. From Public to Civic Intellectuals via Online Cultures 6. Civic Cosmopolitanism and the Web: Facilitating Global AgencyPART III: Critical Approaches 7. Tracking the Civic Subject in the Media Landscape: Versions of the Democratic Ideal 8. Critical Media Theory: Something Old, New, and Unfinished.