Internet and Political Attitudes
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Internet and political attitudes: perspective of elections in Mexico in 2012
Manuel A. Guerrero, Luis M. Martinez
Universidad Iberoamericana, Department of Communications, Ciudad de México
The lack of participation in democratic processes is gaining attention along with a worldwide-diminished interest in public matters. Such characteristics are becoming a distinctive mark of a significant proportion of population in the democratic world (Dalton 2002, Putnam 2001). However, since 1990s, authors such as Negroponte (1995) and Wellman (1997), have been pointing out that ITCs and mainly the Internet are enabling new possibilities of participation. Due to better availability and improved information access. In England, it is reported that at the surrounding area of the University of Leeds the Internet is helping their inhabitants to improve a number of skills and abilities, such as a faster acquisition of information and a sense of exigency to political representatives originated in their online communities.
This paper shows evidence of the dimension of such population characteristics in Mexico. According to recent statistics, more than 64% of population lack of interest in politics and 72.3% avoid discussing politics (ENCUP, 2008). However, current research such as the aforementioned survey, lacks of information regarding the impact of Internet. We show the experimental results of enriching the ENCUP (Encuesta Nacional sobre Cultura Política y Prácticas Ciudadanas, National Survey on Political Culture and Citizenship) results with those of the National Survey of Youth (ENJUVE). As a result of the experiment, we discuss how the use of Internet promotes more interest in politics and social participation, focusing in Mexico. Finally, we discuss the effect of Internet use in observed changes in confidence of politicians and their political parties.
1. Introduction
When talking about democracy in the modern world, one of the most obvious concerns has to do
Internet and political attitudes: perspective of elections in Mexico in 2012
Manuel A. Guerrero, Luis M. Martinez
Universidad Iberoamericana, Department of Communications, Ciudad de México
The lack of participation in democratic processes is gaining attention along with a worldwide-diminished interest in public matters. Such characteristics are becoming a distinctive mark of a significant proportion of population in the democratic world (Dalton 2002, Putnam 2001). However, since 1990s, authors such as Negroponte (1995) and Wellman (1997), have been pointing out that ITCs and mainly the Internet are enabling new possibilities of participation. Due to better availability and improved information access. In England, it is reported that at the surrounding area of the University of Leeds the Internet is helping their inhabitants to improve a number of skills and abilities, such as a faster acquisition of information and a sense of exigency to political representatives originated in their online communities.
This paper shows evidence of the dimension of such population characteristics in Mexico. According to recent statistics, more than 64% of population lack of interest in politics and 72.3% avoid discussing politics (ENCUP, 2008). However, current research such as the aforementioned survey, lacks of information regarding the impact of Internet. We show the experimental results of enriching the ENCUP (Encuesta Nacional sobre Cultura Política y Prácticas Ciudadanas, National Survey on Political Culture and Citizenship) results with those of the National Survey of Youth (ENJUVE). As a result of the experiment, we discuss how the use of Internet promotes more interest in politics and social participation, focusing in Mexico. Finally, we discuss the effect of Internet use in observed changes in confidence of politicians and their political parties.
1. Introduction
When talking about democracy in the modern world, one of the most obvious concerns has to do
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