Democracy, deliberation and design: the case of online discussion forums

Abstract

Within democratic theory, the deliberative variant has assumed pre-eminence. It represents for many the ideal of democracy, and in pursuit of this ideal, online discussion forums have been proposed as solutions to the practical limits to mass deliberation. Critics have pointed to evidence which suggests that online discussion has tended to undermine deliberation. This article argues that this claim, which generates a stand-off between the two camps, misses a key issue: the role played by design in facilitating or thwarting deliberation. It argues that political choices are made both about the format and operation of the online discussion, and that this affects the possibility of deliberation. Evidence for the impact of design (and the choices behind it) is drawn from analysis of European Union and UK discussion forums. This evidence suggests that we should view deliberation as dependent on design and choice, rather than a predetermined product of the technology.

Online discussion and the 2014 Scottish independence referendum: Flaming keyboards or forums for deliberation?

“…One consistent finding from existing research on online forums and their potential for deliberation is that the type and design of the forum is key (Jensen, 2003;Wright and Street, 2007;Velasquez et al, 2014). Factors to consider include who is in control of the forum, the level of moderation, what type of participants it draws, and the newsworthiness of topics that prompts discussion.…”

Partisipasi Politik Belia Secara ‘Online’ Melalui Ruang Demokrasi Maklumat Media Baru (Youth Online Political Participation Through New Media Information Democracy Space)

“…Ciri-ciri teknikal Internet, digabungkan dengan akronim laman perbincangan telah menubuhkan sebuah 'dunia maya' yang mempunyai syarat demokrasi (Wright & Street, 2007). Malah kini, akses Internet menerusi media baru seperti blog, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube dan sebagainya memberi kebebasan untuk membuat pertukaran pendapat tanpa sebarang 'gatekeeper' dan semua orang bebas untuk menghantar mesej pandangan, berkongsi maklumat serta menyokong pendapat mereka.…”

From Competition and Collusion to Consent-Based Collaboration: A Case Study of Local Democracy

“…In response to declining participation and trust in public institutions, many local and national governments have been adopting ICT-driven strategies to reach and engage citizens and obtain their input (Dahlberg, 2010;Wright & Street, 2007;Zhang, Xu, Zhang, & Chen, 2016). Although online forums and other ICT platforms are highly interesting remedies for declining public participation (Wright & Street, 2007), they may also mask the more fundamental problems that democratic governance systems are currently facing.…”

“…Although online forums and other ICT platforms are highly interesting remedies for declining public participation (Wright & Street, 2007), they may also mask the more fundamental problems that democratic governance systems are currently facing. This article further explores a particular strategy toward filling the void between citizens and public institutions.…”