Internet Democracy
Movements
They are often only associated with the extreme sides of an ideology. The liberal movement, the conservative movement, ect.
It is rare, as one recent comment so astutely pointed out, that moderates can excite people in such a way as to spark a movement.
The main reason for this is the fact that most Americans BEGIN at or around the center and the movements mentioned are designed to swing them to one side or the other.
However, technology and the internet have provided a sounding board for centrists and moderates, one that if they use effectively has the potential to spark a movement of their own.
One of the primary facets of this site will be to discuss the ways in which the internet can be utilized in a strategic way to further a political agenda or expand an ideology.
From time to time this means you will see postings on such things as usability, RSS feeders, HTML codes, and other minutiae that may seem inconsequential and boring, but is in essence the tools of modern movements.
They are often only associated with the extreme sides of an ideology. The liberal movement, the conservative movement, ect.
It is rare, as one recent comment so astutely pointed out, that moderates can excite people in such a way as to spark a movement.
The main reason for this is the fact that most Americans BEGIN at or around the center and the movements mentioned are designed to swing them to one side or the other.
However, technology and the internet have provided a sounding board for centrists and moderates, one that if they use effectively has the potential to spark a movement of their own.
One of the primary facets of this site will be to discuss the ways in which the internet can be utilized in a strategic way to further a political agenda or expand an ideology.
From time to time this means you will see postings on such things as usability, RSS feeders, HTML codes, and other minutiae that may seem inconsequential and boring, but is in essence the tools of modern movements.
3 Comments:
I find it interesting to look at how the definition of "left" has changed over the years. As I learned from the fundamentals course (see E. J. Dionne's and Patterson's books from that course), in the 50's and 60's, the "left" was perhaps even more opposed to the "liberal establishment," than it was to the "right."
The definition of conservative made a change around that time, as well (thanks, in part, to William F. Buckley Jr.'s "National Review" magazine.) I was particularly fascinated by a passage in the Dionne book, where a conservative complained about Buckley's work. The complaint was filled with concern for civil liberties; it could easily have been written by what's called a "liberal" today. I believe the right wing media has so distorted the equation, that quite moderate liberal positions are now labeled as "leftist." (My goodness, even the AARP has been accused recently of being too far to the left.) So I hesitate to criticize the "far left," without at least this historical context in mind.
By Shadow, at 1:49 PM
Shadow's point about the evolution of ideological labels is interesting, and particularly so in the context of online movements. How does one rally and inspire the masses behind the "moderate" movement. Tough with that label, no matter how inspiring the idea.
The internet is the playground of the politically energized, whether right, center, left, or disaffected. Rather than acting to polarize segments of the population, the internet may act to muddy the ideological waters. With loads of information and cross- fertilization of ideas, political activity may trend toward issue-based coalitions formed from across the spectrum to advance a specific cause.
By ganesh, at 9:51 PM
I once started an organization which has since become what those now involved term a "movement." Of course, then there is what Arlo Guthrie says about it. What is wrong with the tension of extremes? Our conflicts may be the best thing for us, narrow as they may be in the mass dialouge when compared to the possible voices.
Is a movement what you want, wouldn't a new concensus be preferable given your moderate/centerist bent?
By brooks, at 12:08 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home