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1 - Democracy's Deliberative Deficit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Stephen Coleman  and
Jay G. Blumler
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Summary

The public will not support decisions unless they feel that they have been properly consulted and involved in the making of them.

(Gordon Brown in an interview with Andrew Marr, BBC1, 13 May 2007)

People with little or no power are made to believe that there is no point in raising their voices, as it will make no difference. That they will not be listened to by those who have power and control. This habit becomes so strong that some people almost forget that they have opinions of their own, and so they just endure the hardships that they suffer.

(Cathy McCormack, quoted in the report of the U.K. Commission on Poverty, Participation and Power 2000: 5)

Never before in history have there been so many opportunities to access, comment upon and challenge governing authorities. But never before, at least in democratic history, has the public felt so frustrated and disappointed about its lack of ability to make any difference to the policies and decisions of government. In surveys, focus groups and interviews, citizens repeatedly complain of feeling left out, unheard and disrespected; mere spectators upon a political process that is rapidly losing their trust.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Internet and Democratic Citizenship
Theory, Practice and Policy
 , pp. 14 - 41
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009

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