ABSTRACT
In recent years, the literature on the many usages of information and communication technologies (ICTs)2 in everyday contexts has increased exponentially. The different perspectives in studies on ICT-use seem to suggest that this communicative technology permeates every aspect of everyday life. If this were the case, then it would be logical to suggest that – in addition to the socio-economic sphere – the cultural and the inter-personal, the political and the democratic systems are also being affected. There are of course many ways of looking at the usage of ICTs in political terms. An important distinction that emerges here is between the use of ICTs in more formal political processes and their use in more informal political processes. This case study looks at ICT-usage from the latter perspective and more specifically posed questions as to how (transnational) social movements appropriate and use these technologies for different purposes. It is, however, necessary to stress beforehand that although the use of ICTs was the starting-point of this case study, a technology-centred approach was rejected. It is too easy to herald the new potentials of the internet in democratic terms as revolutionary – able to change politics and the nature of political participation. We need to remain critical of unsubstantiated claims and assumptions that ICTs would (or have already) change(d) our lives in a radical way – economically, socially, culturally and politically.
