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Cooptation and cooperation: institutional exemplars of democratic internet technology

Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois

This article examines how online political groups are co-opting internet technology from commercial interests to amplify various cooperative processes. After formulating a framework for praxis-based democratic theories of technology, I select four internet-based groups as institutional exemplars for analysis: Democratic Underground, Free Republic, Indymedia, and Move On. These groups implement distinct types of democratic applications of internet technology and embody specific strands of democratic theory. I conclude by commenting on the direction of internet-based democratic practices, their political efficacy in terms of strategy and tactics, and how they figure within US political culture.

Key Words: cyber activism • democratic theory • indymedia • internet activism • online political action • technology studies

New Media & Society, Vol. 10, No. 4, 625-645 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1461444808093734


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