Politics, Policy and the Internet:Charity 5/2/08 15:39 Page 1
Politics, policy and the internet:Charity 5/2/08 15:39 Page 1 CENTRE FOR POLICY STUDIES “In January 2007, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama launched their bids for the most powerful position in the world. But there was no bunting or cheering crowds. Instead, both candidates for the US Presidency made their announcements in a manner inconceivable just a few years ago: they released videos on their websites.” Politics, Policy and Television and radio transformed the way politics operated in the twentieth century. And, predicts the Internet Robert Colvile, the internet could do the same in the twenty-first. Yet the main British political parties are failing to exploit its potential. The BNP website has the ROBERT COLVILE same market share as all of the other major political parties combined. The internet will bring a far greater openness to politics, helping the activist and the citizen hold politicians to account. The web could also re-empower MPs, by linking them far more directly to the concerns of their constituents. And for policy development, the internet will revolutionise the way policy-making works. The most subtle, but perhaps most powerful, change, may be to the public’s mindset. As we grow used to the instant availability of information online, we will no longer tolerate delay and obfuscation in getting similar information from government. The individual, and not the state, will be the master in the digital age. Price: £5.00 Politics, Policy and the Internet ROBERT COLVILE CENTRE FOR POLICY STUDIES 57 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QL 2008 THE AUTHOR ROBERT COLVILE is a features editor and leader writer at The Daily Telegraph, where he also writes extensively about technology.
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