Expanding the Public Sphere through Computer ... - ResearchGate
Expanding the Public Sphere through Computer ... - ResearchGate
Expanding the Public Sphere through Computer ... - ResearchGate
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
CHAPTER 1. COMPUTERS, CONVERSATION AND DEMOCRACY 9<br />
This <strong>the</strong>sis is an analysis of an emerging kind of political talk or discourse: that<br />
which takes place over a computer network. More specifically, it is a case study of<br />
<strong>the</strong> conversation about abortion that took place within a Usenet newsgroup over<br />
<strong>the</strong> course of one year. It tests <strong>the</strong> hypo<strong>the</strong>sis that <strong>the</strong> newly emergent form of<br />
discourse fostered by computer mediated discussion provides an opportunity to<br />
revitalize <strong>the</strong> public sphere in a manner consistent with <strong>the</strong> goals of participatory<br />
democracy. The hypo<strong>the</strong>sis is tested <strong>through</strong> an analysis of <strong>the</strong> Usenet newsgroup<br />
talk.abortion over <strong>the</strong> course of a one year period, with a focus on <strong>the</strong> conversational<br />
arena created by <strong>the</strong> discussion. The <strong>the</strong>sis is presented in seven chapters:<br />
This chapter provides a contextual introduction to <strong>the</strong> notion of a newsgroup<br />
and discusses <strong>the</strong> role of political conversation in democratic <strong>the</strong>ory.<br />
Chapter 2 uses <strong>the</strong> concept of <strong>the</strong> public sphere concept to provide an organizing<br />
framework for <strong>the</strong> project.<br />
Chapter 3 explores <strong>the</strong> relationship between communication technology and<br />
<strong>the</strong> shape of <strong>the</strong> public sphere, with particular emphasis on technologies enabling<br />
computer-mediated discussion, and traces <strong>the</strong> emergence of Usenet,<br />
<strong>the</strong> largest system of computer-mediated discussion groups in <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
Chapter 4 reviews <strong>the</strong> political history of abortion in <strong>the</strong> United States, and<br />
examines trends in <strong>the</strong> public discussion of abortion.<br />
Chapter 5 proposes a method of assessing computer-mediated discussion in<br />
<strong>the</strong> context of <strong>the</strong> public sphere concept, and details procedures and methods<br />
of analysis.<br />
Chapter 6 analyzes <strong>the</strong> conversational arena created by <strong>the</strong> participants in<br />
<strong>the</strong> talk.abortion newsgroup during <strong>the</strong> study period.<br />
Chapter 7 draws conclusions about <strong>the</strong> nature of <strong>the</strong> public sphere created<br />
by <strong>the</strong> participants in talk.abortion.<br />
The next section of this chapter provides a contextual introduction to <strong>the</strong> nature of<br />
computer-mediated discourse, while section 1.2 on page 11 examines <strong>the</strong> role of<br />
discussion in a democracy.