ABSTRACT
The Internet is increasingly viewed as a means for including citizens in government policy making and administrative processes (Bimber 1998, 1999, 2001; Dahlberg 2001; Weare 2002). Despite the growing interest in electronic democracy, there is inadequate empirical work on applications of communications technology for this purpose (Weare 2002). An important question is whether the Internet medium will enable individuals to participate more equally and effectively in the processes of governing. As a new type of public space, the Internet may reduce barriers to participation of scale, proximity, and time. If so, it could promote democratic deliberation among individuals and enhance democratic practice by bringing values and interests under greater public scrutiny. On the other hand, the Internet may undermine participation by increasing inequalities of access, fragmenting public comment from the processes of government, and reinforcing divisiveness in public discourse.
