The Features of Political Participation in Conditions of Information Society

Home , 2018 in Armenia

Astghik PETROSYAN

UDC 316.77:323.2 Astghik PETROSYAN

THE FEATURES OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN CONDITIONS OF INFORMATION SOCIETY

Abstract

In the 21st century, the Internet and information technologies form new opportunities for political participation. The Internet wide coverage has created unprecedented opportunities for dissemination of information on social-political processes, for enlargement of the aware sector and for their active involve-

ment in social-political processes. Use of the Internet in politics leads to the evolution of the conventional model of political participation, thus, securing the impact of broad masses on the political decision-making processes. Political Internet participation makes it possible to overcome such obstacles as time and distance. The

political discourse that had acquired features of horizontal communication is turning into a multi- CHAIR OF YOUNG SCIENTIST component, multi-lateral model of interactive communication. The article presents the role and influence of the Internet and means of electronic communication on political ongoings and participatory processes. An analysis is given on the role of the Internet and information technologies in the revolutionary events and power turnover processes of 2018 in Armenia. The author comes to the conclusion that neutralization of abuses and risks of the opportunities given by continually developing technologies, supposes not only philosophical consideration but also moral and legal studies and practical mechanisms.

Keywords: information technology, political participation, internet, social network, information society.

Under information society, the Internet and the active sector of the society to present their information technologies form a new platform initiatives and implement projects, such as fund- and opportunities for political participation. raising for the solution of various issues, for Wide coverage of the Internet, mobilification collecting signatures, social actions, and so on. have made it possible for broad social layers to Swift enlargement of the Internet coverage be more informed and more or less involved in has opened unprecedented opportunities for the political processes. Currently, the Internet is dissemination of information about social-poi- employing a specific function: from a passive tical processes, for the increase of the informed addressee of information, a user is transforming portion and for its active involvement in social- into an information developer and is becoming a political processes. subject of internet communication. The Internet Comprehensive transformations due to the forms an environment, a unique social space for development of technology, unlimited access to 100 101 101 WISDOM 1(12), 2019 Astghik PETROSYAN

information resources are typical for post-indust- well as in presentation by the authorities of posi- rial or more typical for information society (Sar- tions and proposals concerning issues of public gsyan, 2008, p. 9). importance, ways to resolve them, projects con- Internet space is viewed as a special sphere cerning them, or in taking decisions through of social life. formation of public mood and opinion, in influ- Active implementation of the virtual space encing the processes aiming to enforce these de- to impede and to activate political participation cisions. in Armenia has become a serious factor during Voynov D. A. offers to classify forms of the last decade. This phenomenon achieved its political participation through the use of Internet pinnacle during the spring and summer months resources following the traditional classification of 2018. of forms of political participation. Conventional The aim of the present survey is to reveal and non-conventional forms of political partici- the role and significance of the Internet and elec- pation are singled out here. Conventional politi- tronic communication in the revolutionary events cal participation is implemented in compliance and power turnover in Armenia in 2018. with legal norms and procedures set in a definite Still, in 1996, Lawrence K. Grossman political system. Non-conventional participation (1995) (former president of NBC News and occasionally breaks these norms and is displayed former president of the Public Broadcasting via direct actions, bypassing representative insti- System) predicted that the Internet would give tutions. Besides, some forms of internet commu- wide opportunities to involve the public in the nication activities can be classified among meth- decision-making process (p. 290). Grossman‟s ods of political protest, which differ from non- predictions are coming true in the 21st century. conventional ones merely because don‟t presume John Barlow in his “A Declaration of the immediate physical impact (Voynov, 2016, p. Independence of Cyberspace” in a figurative 50). way condensing the processes taking place Conventional forms of political participa- around the world said: “In our world, who wants tion on the Internet include: and wherever wants, can express his thoughts, no 1. voting at Internet elections, polls, referenda; matter how unusual they are, without fear that 2. creation and dissemination of political in- they will be forced to keep silent or to agree with formation through blogs, websites, Internet- the majority. ... In our world, everything that cre- papers, etc.; ates human thought can reproduce and dissolve 3. fund-raising to support a party or move- endlessly without paying any price”. It‟s about ment; cyberspace (Barlow, 1996). 4. participation in discussions of political is- Wide coverage of the Internet has resulted sues in certain blogs, websites, teleconfer- in a new method of political participation – polit- ences of political parties (movements), In- ical participation via the use of Internet re- ternet communities, state bodies. sources. Non-conventional forms include: Political participation through the Internet 5. hackers‟ attacks on citizens‟ websites, por- means involvement of various groups via infor- tals of state bodies, political parties and oth- mation technologies in political processes, as ers;

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information resources are typical for post-indust- well as in presentation by the authorities of posi- 6. such political provocations as technologies between the managerial and participatory models rial or more typical for information society (Sar- tions and proposals concerning issues of public of “black PR” (creation of clone-sites, dis- combining their main characteristics: participa- gsyan, 2008, p. 9). importance, ways to resolve them, projects con- semination of false information) (Voynov, tion of citizens in the process of taking political Internet space is viewed as a special sphere cerning them, or in taking decisions through 2016, p. 50). decisions and management of the information of social life. formation of public mood and opinion, in influ- There are different meetings and ways of agenda. Active implementation of the virtual space encing the processes aiming to enforce these de- classifying political participation in political lit- Finally, the participatory model character- to impede and to activate political participation cisions. erature: orthodox and unorthodox, elemental and izes multi-faceted, horizontal and multi-direction in Armenia has become a serious factor during Voynov D. A. offers to classify forms of organized (Vasilik, 2000, pp. 213-214), latent interrelations between citizens and politicians. Its the last decade. This phenomenon achieved its political participation through the use of Internet (non-explicit, unspecified) and explicit, individu- main advantage is that its format supposes organ- pinnacle during the spring and summer months resources following the traditional classification al and collective, legitimate and unlawful (Ek- ization of contacts not only at layers citizen- of 2018. of forms of political participation. Conventional man & Amna, 2012, p. 289). citizen and government-citizen but also the exist- The aim of the present survey is to reveal and non-conventional forms of political partici- Chadwick A. and May C. (2003) consider it ence of well-established feedback communica- the role and significance of the Internet and elec- pation are singled out here. Conventional politi- expedient to divide political activeness on the tion from citizens to the state. The participatory tronic communication in the revolutionary events cal participation is implemented in compliance Internet into three groups: managerial, consul- model presumes that governments should be and power turnover in Armenia in 2018. with legal norms and procedures set in a definite tative and participatory (p. 276). open for dialogue with citizens and organized Still, in 1996, Lawrence K. Grossman political system. Non-conventional participation Within the managerial model of internet groups. (1995) (former president of NBC News and occasionally breaks these norms and is displayed participation, the process of involving Internet- Whatever the bases and forms for the classi- former president of the Public Broadcasting via direct actions, bypassing representative insti- technologies is viewed solely as improvement of fication of political participation, they are all ex- System) predicted that the Internet would give tutions. Besides, some forms of internet commu- traditional technologies implemented to update posed to the impact of IT, gaining new qualities wide opportunities to involve the public in the nication activities can be classified among meth- employment of state capabilities and allowing to and modernity. decision-making process (p. 290). Grossman‟s ods of political protest, which differ from non- “combine high speed of making decisions at low In general, the following options of political predictions are coming true in the 21st century. conventional ones merely because don‟t presume cost” (Chadwick & May, 2003, p. 276). Infor- activity and participation via the Internet are dis- John Barlow in his “A Declaration of the immediate physical impact (Voynov, 2016, p. mation flow is linear (top to bottom). The main tinguished: Independence of Cyberspace” in a figurative 50). aim of communication is the reduction of bu-  voting at Internet elections, polls, referenda; way condensing the processes taking place Conventional forms of political participa- reaucracy and expenses, provision of information  creation and dissemination of political in- around the world said: “In our world, who wants tion on the Internet include: to citizens. formation through blogs, websites, Internet- and wherever wants, can express his thoughts, no 1. voting at Internet elections, polls, referenda; The administrative model presumes wide papers, etc.; matter how unusual they are, without fear that 2. creation and dissemination of political in- opportunities to consider citizens‟ opinions on  fund-raising to support a party or political they will be forced to keep silent or to agree with formation through blogs, websites, Internet- issues of public importance in the process of tak- movement; the majority. ... In our world, everything that cre- papers, etc.; ing political-administrative decisions. Even  participation in discussions of political is- ates human thought can reproduce and dissolve 3. fund-raising to support a party or move- though this model promotes certain efficiency of sues in blogs, websites of different political endlessly without paying any price”. It‟s about ment; state policy (as public opinion is taken into con- organizations; cyberspace (Barlow, 1996). 4. participation in discussions of political is- sideration while taking decisions), the infor-  hackers‟ attacks on political actors‟ and par- Wide coverage of the Internet has resulted sues in certain blogs, websites, teleconfer- mation flow, just as in the previous model, is ties‟ websites, portals of state bodies; in a new method of political participation – polit- ences of political parties (movements), In- vertically organized – top to bottom – and the  such political provocations as technologies ical participation via the use of Internet re- ternet communities, state bodies. information space is strictly regulated by the of “black PR” (creation of clone-sites, dis- sources. Non-conventional forms include: state. In other words, citizens can voice their semination of false information) (Voynov, Political participation through the Internet 5. hackers‟ attacks on citizens‟ websites, por- opinion only on matters identified by the gov- 2016, p. 50). means involvement of various groups via infor- tals of state bodies, political parties and oth- ernment. According to Chadwick A. and May The analysis of political activity and partic- mation technologies in political processes, as ers; C., the administrative model is a transitory one ipation phenomena provided in this study is 102 103 103 WISDOM 1(12), 2019 Astghik PETROSYAN

based on the above-mentioned disclosure of po- The protest leader Nikol Pashinyan notes litical participation and its methods and ways regarding this issue: “Currently my Facebook listed above. page has a huge audience comparable to that of a To achieve the target set in the article, con- TV audience. This is a rather effective means for tent analysis of documents (publications in the dialogue with the public and citizens. Facebook mass media), monitoring of Facebook and con- definitely played a big role in the process of our sequential analysis of research in this field have revolution and was a very effective channel for been held. information flows to invite people to demonstra- Already in the 2000s, the Internet began to tions” (“Deutsche Welle”, 2018). assume an essential role in the public life of post- This is a new phenomenon and a new cul- Soviet countries. For instance, in 2005 Estonia ture of political participation in Armenia. The held elections to local bodies through the Internet authorities never used to apply the Internet to for the first time in Europe. More than 9 thou- transmit urgent information to the public. Before sand citizens or about 1% of those eligible to the “Velvet Revolution,” FB was more a forum vote took advantage of voting through the Inter- for analyses and personal information. Many net. That number has been incessantly increasing government members, especially young ones, during the following years. Since 2005, 6 elec- had their personal FB pages; however, Internet tronic elections have been held in Estonia. And a activity wasn't considered anything very positive sweeping number of citizens, 43.8% of the elec- by most of the public. Sceptical approach to- tors were eager to vote via the Internet at the wards the FB forum was also drastically re- 2019 elections to Estonia‟s National Assembly viewed after the 2018 change of government. In (The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of August 2018 R. Kocharyan, the second RA Pres- Estonia) (Valimised, 2019). ident also created his personal page; representa- Almost all forms of political participation tives of the former authorities began to present via the Internet were employed during the 2018 their messages to the public via FB as well. “Velvet Revolution” in Armenia. The opposition The leader of the “Velvet Revolution” N. leader N. Pashinyan used his FB personal page Pashinyan gave live reports every hour about the to inform the public and to improve their politi- march that commenced on March 31 and result- cal activeness. ed in revolutionary events just three and a half It should be noted that most local TV and weeks later. Monitoring of his FB page proves radio companies were to some extent under the that his page became 72 times more active within control of the former authorities or their associ- two weeks. During the first five days of the ates. The Internet remained the only means for march, his live messages were viewed 31 345 information about non-violent demonstrations times on average, while during the last five days and for stimulation of active participation of the figure reached 225 651. The most powerful broad masses. Perhaps, if it weren't for the Inter- tool in the hands of the opposition at the time net, a large number of FB-users (1.2 million) and was Internet communication. With the help of wide coverage of the Internet throughout Arme- Internet monitoring opposition figures were able nia, the “Velvet Revolution” would hardly have to point out the issues mostly worrying the come true. crowds that had taken to the streets. Thus, they

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based on the above-mentioned disclosure of po- The protest leader Nikol Pashinyan notes were able instantly to change slogans, namely: “I decline of the role of TV. litical participation and its methods and ways regarding this issue: “Currently my Facebook am making my step”, “Anti-Sashik”, “Make a The data of surveys held within 1.5 years listed above. page has a huge audience comparable to that of a step, deny Serj”, “Help Serj to retire”, “Police- show that TV has lost its position as a primary To achieve the target set in the article, con- TV audience. This is a rather effective means for man, join in”, “Policeman is one of us”, etc. source of information by 14.7%. The number of tent analysis of documents (publications in the dialogue with the public and citizens. Facebook At that moment the TV as a source of in- people acquiring information from the TV has mass media), monitoring of Facebook and con- definitely played a big role in the process of our formation was upstaged because, before it was reduced, while the number of those gaining in- sequential analysis of research in this field have revolution and was a very effective channel for able to process the available information, the sit- formation from Facebook and e-media has in- been held. information flows to invite people to demonstra- uation in the country would change, events de- creased by 13% and 10.4% respectively (“Gallup Already in the 2000s, the Internet began to tions” (“Deutsche Welle”, 2018). veloped in some unpredictable way and rather Int. Co”, 2017; 2018). assume an essential role in the public life of post- This is a new phenomenon and a new cul- quickly. Live broadcasts from Internet media and Hence, 84.2% of the respondents mentioned Soviet countries. For instance, in 2005 Estonia ture of political participation in Armenia. The FB users remained the main source of updated, TV, 24.7% Facebook and 18% e-media as the held elections to local bodies through the Internet authorities never used to apply the Internet to latest and first-hand information. main source of information on political processes for the first time in Europe. More than 9 thou- transmit urgent information to the public. Before After the opposition leader assumed the during the poll carried out in 2017 (“Gallup Int. sand citizens or about 1% of those eligible to the “Velvet Revolution,” FB was more a forum post of the Prime Minister, TV programs pre- Co”, 2017). vote took advantage of voting through the Inter- for analyses and personal information. Many sented live broadcasts from his FB page, which While the same question concerning what net. That number has been incessantly increasing government members, especially young ones, had no precedent during the former authorities. source is the main to get information on political during the following years. Since 2005, 6 elec- had their personal FB pages; however, Internet Results of the syndicative sociological sur- processes of the 2018 poll displays that 69.5% of tronic elections have been held in Estonia. And a activity wasn't considered anything very positive vey conducted by Gallup International organiza- the respondents mention TV, 37.7% Facebook sweeping number of citizens, 43.8% of the elec- by most of the public. Sceptical approach to- tion a month before the parliamentary elections and 28.4% e-media (“Gallup Int. Co”, 2018). See tors were eager to vote via the Internet at the wards the FB forum was also drastically re- of 2017 April and 2018 December also prove the Diagram 1. 2019 elections to Estonia‟s National Assembly viewed after the 2018 change of government. In (The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of August 2018 R. Kocharyan, the second RA Pres- Estonia) (Valimised, 2019). ident also created his personal page; representa- 84.2% 90.00% Almost all forms of political participation tives of the former authorities began to present 69.5% 80.00% via the Internet were employed during the 2018 their messages to the public via FB as well. 70.00% “Velvet Revolution” in Armenia. The opposition The leader of the “Velvet Revolution” N. 60.00% leader N. Pashinyan used his FB personal page Pashinyan gave live reports every hour about the 50.00% 37.7% 28.4% to inform the public and to improve their politi- march that commenced on March 31 and result- 40.00% 24.7% cal activeness. ed in revolutionary events just three and a half 30.00% 18.0% It should be noted that most local TV and weeks later. Monitoring of his FB page proves 20.00% radio companies were to some extent under the that his page became 72 times more active within 10.00% 0.00% control of the former authorities or their associ- two weeks. During the first five days of the TV Facebook Electronic media ates. The Internet remained the only means for march, his live messages were viewed 31 345 information about non-violent demonstrations times on average, while during the last five days and for stimulation of active participation of the figure reached 225 651. The most powerful 2017 Parliamentary Elections 2018 Parliamentary Elections broad masses. Perhaps, if it weren't for the Inter- tool in the hands of the opposition at the time Diagram 1. Main sources of information prior to elections to the parliament of the 6th and 7th convocation. net, a large number of FB-users (1.2 million) and was Internet communication. With the help of wide coverage of the Internet throughout Arme- Internet monitoring opposition figures were able Implementation of the Internet in politics ticipatory model. The consultative model of po- nia, the “Velvet Revolution” would hardly have to point out the issues mostly worrying the promotes the evolution of the conventional par- litical participation is being replaced by the inter- come true. crowds that had taken to the streets. Thus, they

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active model providing the impact of broad In other words, Internet participation provides masses on the decision making in political pro- feedback between the authorities and the public. cesses. However, the influence of the Internet on The political phenomenon with acquired political events varies from country to country, features of horizontal communication is trans- depending on national, cultural characteristics forming into a multi-component, multi-faceted (Avzalova, 2015, p. 191). interactive form of political communication. Internet political participation contributes to Although any powerful weapon (like the the elimination of vertical contacts in commu- energy generated when an atom is split) may nication processes and to the formation of hori- have a positive implementation, promote resolu- zontal political institutes-public relations. The tion of problems and advance of civilization, it genesis of the democratic, participatory model may just as well be employed erroneously and can be traced in the RA since the turnover of produce disastrous effects. In the 18th century, 2018 spring. The newly elected authorities are Jan Jack Russo noticed that development of sci- rather sensitive about the communication on the ence and technology contains inherent conse- Internet platform. They not only present reports quences menacing to the progress of society and on the work fulfilled, but also follow the feed- the person. The issue has been relevant at all back of the society. times, including today (Russo, 2014). Thus, political participation via the Internet In this context, the person who created these has its advantages and characteristic features. technologies assumes an essential role with his Firstly, Internet participation gives an opportuni- moral outlook and value problems; meanwhile ty to overcome time, distance and geographic voicing and regulation of the latter, as the history obstacles, an example of which we witness dur- of civilization shows, “lag behind” scientific and ing the spring-summer months of 2018 in Arme- technical revolutions. Neutralization of abuses nia when citizens, independent of their place of and risks of capabilities of continually develop- residence, watched the political movement in ing technologies supposes not only philosophical action in the country and integrated into the consideration but also moral and legal studies events following the opposition leader‟s all in- and practical mechanisms. structions. The crowd mobilized instantly and And yet, development of science and tech- impeded traffic, held demonstrations and strikes nologies is indivertible; it has no alternative and and other acts of civil disobedience. is to serve the wellbeing of man, enhancement of Another major function of the Internet gives democracy. The study of the above-mentioned a citizen the opportunity to impact the process of influence of information technology on the so- making decisions on significant issues of public cial, political, economic, educational and cultural importance. In some cases, representatives of the spheres of public life bearing not only theoretical newly elected government address the public: on and emotional but also practical importance. their FB page they raise the issue and ask the public what solution they see in that definite sit- REFERENCES uation. There are also cases when some decisions are reviewed or suspended after they have Avzalova, E. I., (2015). Internet-uchastie kak no- been sharply criticized on the Internet by society. vaya forma politicheskogo uchastiya

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