Essay (Topic 4)

This essay explores the political and democratic uses of the internet and the implications that actions of globalisation and the creation of online communities have on society. There is not an instant solution for the political misuse of the internet. Kevin Rudd’s Clean Feed[i] is not viable solution, but either is doing nothing. This essay will conclude with an appropriate solution to the political chaos on the internet.
There are many uses and limits of the internet in terms of politics and democracy. The use of politics on the World Wide Web is a wide spread phenomenon. Some common political uses of the internet are e-petitions such as Justice for Michael Jackson[ii] and Save Steve’s Place[iii]. Both these petitions ask for your signature and support in preserving the memory of these much loved entertainers. E-petitions are a fast and simple way of collecting support for a political cause via the internet. Both official and unofficial government websites are another political use of the internet. Certified government web pages such as the Australian Parliament House[iv] and NSW Government Website[v] provide unbiased, truthful and current information on the federal and state governments. Politically biased websites such as KevinPM[vi] and Australian Review[vii] may be considered a misuse of the internet due to their persuasive content. Free speech and censorship has allowed political ideologies to be expressed that would have previously been considered taboo. Newspapers and television did not publish political views that were against the party in power. The internet allowed these opinions to be expressed. The limits of the internet, in terms of reaching people on a political level, comprise of the percentage of the population that have internet access, and the percentage of those people who actually connect to the internet for political use. (See Diagram One) Instances of the limits can be seen in those who choose to follow Kevin Rudd on Twitter[viii] or check when parliament is sitting on the Australian Parliament House Website. [ix] Another limit is the ease by which any individual can create a website and respond to information posted on other websites on the internet. As there are no restrictions as to who can create a webpage, and limited restrictions as to what they post on there, the flow of politically biased information is uncontrolled. The democratic uses of the internet include the ability to reach mass audiences with important current affairs. The democratic limits exist when trying to control and suppress the amount of politically based advertising on the internet.
The nature of the political, the political use of the internet, should be rethought. Politics can be defined as “activity in relation to power”. “Politics is a domain of its own – the domain of power. Thus it is not morality, it is not aesthetics, it is not economic. Politics is a way of thinking.” [x] Meyer’s statement reinforces that ‘we’ – as a nation – should rethink the nature of politics. “The way politics divides the world is into friend and enemy” [xi] The internet savvy population of the world is infact divided into friend and enemy, not as half and half, but into smaller groups, from nations at war to individuals arguing over political beliefs. Both the situations should make us rethink the nature of the political, of politics and how the world is divided as a result.
In the age of networks that have the potential to span the whole planet, globalisation has taken over. ‘Networks’ may be defined as “LAN – local area networks[xii]or “WAN – Wide area networks, a computer network that covers a broad area.”[xiii] These two types of networks have increased rapidly since the invention of the internet. “Globalisation involves the reduction of barriers to trans-world contacts. Through it people become more able—physically, legally, culturally, and psychologically—to engage with each other in “one world”.[xiv] Globalisation has resulted in more communication being engaged by less communication. This has essentially lead to less information needing to be posted on the internet as individuals from any country can access it. For example, a human being in Africa can readily access information on Australian or NSW politics. The result of these large networks on the nation of Australia and its states, is that communication via distance is shortened. Globalisation can be seen as both a good and bad phenomenon. In relation to politics it has transformed communication. Video conferences between leaders from countries of large geographical distance may now communication via technologies such as Skype,[xv] msn messenger and webcam, or on YouTube[xvi] and blogs via video posts. Therefore, the nation and its states are positively affected by globalisation.
The idea of community has changed dramatically in the age of networked digital media. Community may be defined as “a group of people living in a particular local area; common ownership; agreements as to goals; residential district”[xvii] traditional definition of a community has evolved into a blanket definition which now encompasses individuals that are not in the same geographic domain. Therefore, an online community may be defined as “a virtual community, e-community or online community which is a group of people that primarily interact via communication media such as newsletters, telephone, email, internet, social network service or instant messages rather than face-to-face for social, professional, educational or other purposes”[xviii] The idea of community in this age has therefore been transformed, it has changed with society. Examples of communities that match the more modern definition are Facebook[xix] groups, chat features in online multi-player games such as Age of Conan[xx] and actions groups like Greenpeace.[xxi]
The solution proposed for the questionable uses of the internet for politics is as follows: Firstly, restrictions should be made regarding both the nature of political websites and propaganda. Party alliance should be clearly stated at the beginning and end of all motion pictures, and a logo or fine print statement should be included in still images. This labelling of preference will aid the political confusion and undermining marketing tactics taken on by both political parties.









Diagram One: Proportion of Australian Households that have Access to the Internet
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Chapter10002008


[i] No Clean Feed – Stop Internet Censorship in Australia 2009, Andrew Harrison, viewed 10 October 2009, http://nocleanfeed.com

[ii] Justice for Michael Jackson: Liars Must Pay! 2009, Petition Online, viewed 15 October 2009, http://www.petitiononline.com/MICHAELJ/petition.html

[iii] Save Steve’s Place, Australia Zoo Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve 2009, viewed 20 October 2009, http://www.savestevesplace.com/

[iv] Parliament of Australia 2009, viewed 21 October 2009, http://www.aph.gov.au/

[v] NSW Government – State of Opportunity 2009, viewed on 21 October 2009, http://more.nsw.gov.au/

[vi] KevinPM 2009, , Karl Bitar, Sydney Avenue Barton ACT 2600, viewed 19 October 2009, http://www.kevinpm.com.au/

[vii] Australian Review of Public Affairs, Faculty of Economics and Business at The University of Sydney, viewed 17 October 2009, http://www.australianreview.net/

[viii] Twitter 2009, viewed 21 October 2009, http://twitter.com

[ix] Parliament of Australia 2009, viewed 21 October 2009, http://www.aph.gov.au/

[x] Meyer, J 200, Environmentalism and the Interpretation of Western Thought, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

[xi] Meyer, J 200, Environmentalism and the Interpretation of Western Thought, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

[xii] Mitchell, B 2009, About: Wireless/Networking, LAN, viewed 19 October 2009, http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/lanvlanwan/g/bldef_lan.htm

[xiii] WorldNet Search 3.0, WAN, viewed 15 October 2009, http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=wide%20area%20network

[xiv] Microsoft Nine MSN Encarta 2009, viewed 21 October 2009, http://au.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_1461500353/globalization.html
[xv] Skype – Make Free calls and Great Value Calls on the Internet 2009, viewed 22 October 2009, http://www.skype.com/intl/en/

[xvi] YouTube – Broadcast Yourself 2009, viewed 23 October 2009, http://www.youtube.com/

[xvii] The Free Dictionary, By Farlex 2009,viewed 20 October 2009, http://www.thefreedictionary.com/community

[xviii] Hyper Local Edge, Giving Small Businesses the Edge Online, viewed 16 October 2009, http://hyperlocaledge.com/online-community-management/

[xix] Facebook, viewed 23 October 2009, http://www.facebook.com

[xx] Age of Conan – Hiborian Adventures, viewed 21 October 2009, http://www.ageofconan.com/

[xxi] Greenpeace International 2009, viewed 21 October 2009, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/