Build It And They Will Come
From Internet: Knowledge and Community
- Hoyle Hodges
- Internet: Knowledge and Community
- Response for 9 Feb 2011
- Build It and They Will Come
- While true social inclusion will doubtless take considerable time
to take place, we can — and must — make progress on this front, if deliberation becomes more commonplace as a problem-solving strategy... (Schuler, Extending Engagement, pg 7) Social Inclusion is at the heart of meaningful citizen deliberation, without full inclusion across all boundaries social, political, cultural, physical etc. we will not attain full citizen deliberation. ICT can provide the necessary "glue" that will help integrate the variety of venues, conversations, languages, and media that will be needed to realize strong citizenship. (Schuler, Extending Engagement, pg 7) While ICT can and will be the “glue” that assists in bringing about social inclusion, the internet or web is only one of many tools that can be used to achieve complete inclusion. The author clearly states that social scientists have not done enough, quick enough to bring about meaningful input into the role of technology in citizens lives. Additionally face to face contact cannot be forgotten or deemphasized within the context of building true social inclusion. Increasing citizen opportunities through creation of “third spaces” both physical and virtual will be critical for this endeavor. Social inclusion is often a politically loaded phrase, but it not need be. Education of both the elites and citizens on basic function and processes of inclusion can help reduce the gnashing of teeth and bearing of claws on this critical function of deliberative democracy. The most immediate way to bring about the type of change for society to participate in the tenets of the Leeds Declaration is to make access to the internet a basic human right. The United States as the remaining super power and traditional world leader could pave the way in this realm. By making internet access a “Right” through the political process of a Constitutional Amendment just like our other rights we strengthen our own democracy and advance social inclusion in a fundamental way. By making internet access a right in the United States, other world governments and UN organizations will follow suit. It will give us another lever over oppressive regimes to force them to open up and become transparent. While not easy, history does show that Constitutional Amendments are achievable, maybe now is the time to begin laying the groundwork for such an act which could have a profound change.
