Week #9: A Force To Be Reckoned With

The Internet is a potent force in politics today. But is it enough? Can it really bring about political change?

Let’s take a look at President Barack Obama’s 2012 Campaign Launch video:

I’m sure you remember his presidential campaign a few years back that extensively utilized social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube. This online venture was hugely popular among netizens and allowed for the younger generation to gain greater insights into his political campaign, further contributing to his eventual success. That was then, this is now: President Obama’s newly launched campaign has gained much flak from netizens, with many of them criticizing his supposed reforms and blaming him for the mounting debt the USA is currently in. 

In both of these campaigns, netizens were either inspired or turned off by Obama’s online rallies. Emotions were roused, knowledge of the different campaigns was increased, and people also became more aware of their ability to contribute to the future of their nation through voting. This was, and still remains, the Internet’s role in political campaigning. However, in spite of all the online hype, voters still have to respond, people still have to take action. Online campaigning comes to naught if the people who seem so fired up online are unable or do not act upon their declarations of support.

Also, what if the Internet is shut down by the ruling coalition? This was what happened during the recent Egypt revolution. Online political dissension, uprising and movements will come to an unceasing halt if Internet accessibility is not restored. If the Internet were the determining factor for political change, then revolutions would fail if the Internet were disabled. It wasn’t the case for Egypt.

The Internet, therefore, is a mere facilitator of political change. It can evoke emotions and motivate actions, but it cannot determine people’s responses. The onus for political change, and any other change that is crucial for progress worldwide, is on the people. They need to take action and act on their convictions. Thus, it is and always will be the role of the people, not an intangible and impersonal force like the Internet, to bring about political change in countries worldwide.

For more perspectives with regards to the influence of the Internet on politics, refer to:

http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2008/The-Internet-Gains-in-Politics/Summary-of-Findings.aspx

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/04/iran-politics-blogging-internet