Blog 8: Internet and Politics

In the early part of the 20th century the invention of radio and television greatly accelerated the dissemination of information albeit in a form that was mostly one-way, thus again proportioning a significant power in the hands of the wealthy owners of recording and broadcasting technology. At the same time, the populace of western nations were being induced into believing that the new electronic communications systems, like the telephone and television,

"liberate our domesticity from its dependence on physical location and enhance our social and cultural freedoms by enabling us, as active consumers and users, to create our own distinct and meaningful cultural identities."

This extrapolated to the new computer technologies, which began to develop when the U.S. defense agencies sought to create a system to make the U.S. military's weapons systems less vulnerable to attack.

POWER OF THE INTERNET

One of the most attractive attributes of the Internet for political activists would be its ostensibly uncontrolled nature. The fact that the Internet is able to render irrelevant the laws and controls of nation-states, and the essentially 'anarchic' quality where there can be genuine freedom of expression are qualities that attract those who have been voiceless in the past.

The range of groups active on the Internet vary from feminists and environmentalists to indigenous and liberation struggles to right wing extremists and white power advocates. Every conceivable group of like-minded people on the planet is theoretically able to connect and communicate with their fellow-travellers.

Furthermore, the global nature of the Internet means that for minimal outlay political activists now have the whole world as a potential audience for their propaganda via web sites, e-mail and discussion groups.

However, one of the major threats to the ultimate independent nature of the Internet might be posed by the major commercial imperatives of the new global corporate interests with incredible wealth and power.

Personally i feel that in Singapore, although forums and online portals make it easier for the exchanging of views among youths, such tools are unable to reach out to apathetic and disinterested parties.

People who are interested in music will visit forums which discuss music and entertainment. Sports lovers will frequent forums, or even blogs with a sporting outlook and content.

Likewise for politics, only youths who are interested in politics would bother to explore political forums, portals or even blogs online.

Hence, the Internet thus poses an obstacle for political parties like the Workers' Party to reach out to politically disinterested youths.

Fundamentally, the Internet does not solve the problem of raising political awareness among youths in general.

The Internet also leads to a false perception among the youths that they are contributing to their country by expressing their views and ideas online.It creates a facade that their ideas and views are being heard and considered by policymakers.

Blogs like i-speak, tend to reinforce the mindset among youths that the Internet is a feasible and convenient tool through which youths can voice their suggestions to the country and government.

BUT perhaps, nothing beats a face-to-face engagement with the public, which allows one to get a feel of the problems and circumstances afflicting Singaporeans in general.

On the ground is where the most exposure to youths is avaliable, by listening to the comments and opinions expressed by them. Providing an inkling of what exactly are their thinking and mindset. Only then can we propose effective and creative ideas and suggestions to reach out to these youths.

A very good example that i can give is The Youth Wing of the Workers' Party , which creates countless opportunities for youths to constantly interact with like-minded people, fostering the inception of various initiatives and ideas.

Being in a youth wing allows for a pro-youth stance without asserting the main political stance of the mother party. Putting aside the formalities and practices prevalent in a political party, thereby encouraging the development of ideas and opinions crucial to assisting and raising political awareness among the youths in Singapore.

Before i end off, i came across this interesting clip, the FUTURE OF POLITICS....