Contents
- Index
9.4. Field Research II: Properties of the Public Interest Network (Top)
Research Focus:
Network Properties
Time 1 Hypotheses:
Time 2 Hypotheses: (Likely to change over time)
Time 3 Hypotheses: (Likely to change over time)
Time 4 Hypotheses: (Likely to change over time)
Methods:
Interview A-Net Leaders
Use Web technologies to estimate traffic on A-Nets
Interview representatives of other power centers
A-Net archives, news reports, and articles
Studies and discussions of democratic theory and practice
Variables:
Distribution of A-Nets by:
Membership size,
Traffic,
Issue range, and type
Structure:
unaffiliated units to fully developed institution
Power structure within collective network - power law?
Aggregate level:
Connectivity: Power structure - power law with monopoly of traffic or layered structure?
Growth
Sustainability,
Self-awareness
Mission consensus,
Culture
Awareness/respect by other power centers.
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Materials
General Hypotheses:
1. American political system is in transition to a participatory democracy/
2. Widespread public participation through public interest groups will come to characterize American politics.
3. Grass roots Internet technologies will offer alternatives to corporate sponsored government policies and will sometimes prevail.
4. Grass roots Internet technologies will provide an alternative to corporate campaign funding.
5. Candidates funded by grass roots sources will be serious contenders in future elections against corporate funded candidates.
6. Serious contenders funded by grass roots sources will not be forced into "me-to" centrist platforms.
7. Howard Dean as an example of this new breed of candidates (there may be others) will be a serious contender. This prediction already has some support by his leap from obscurity to one of the leaders of the primary pack.
References
(Top)