Course Description: The Internet and the Future of Democracy
Professor: Peter M. Shane and Peter Muhlberger

This seminar will consider how new communications technologies are likely to affect the quality of political deliberation and participation in the American democratic system. Readings from the perspectives of political science, social psychology, economics, communications theory, and law will consider whether new technologies are likely (a) to influence the quality and level of participation in elections and public debates; (b) to change the relationships of citizens to fellow citizens and to government institutions and representatives, and of government institutions to each other; and (c) to increase access to information in ways that empower people to influence matters of importance to them and to change the dynamics of public policy making.