1.7. Democracy models and the concept of opportunity structures

Point of departure is taken in different normative models of democracy (competitive elitists, consumerist, participatory and deliberative). In particular, the deliberative model is discussed in relation to the classical Habermas model of the political public. This discussion is inspired by democratic theorists as Dryzek (2002), Eriksen & Weigaard (2003) and Loftager (2004) and media theorists as Thompson (1995), Slevin (2000) and Schudson (1997). Particular related to eParticipation a distinction is made between the supply of e-tools that may help create new political opportunity structures for citizens and the demand for or the use of such e-tools among citizens. Such a “market-approach” to e-participation is inspired by the works of Pippa Norris (2004). As to the political effects of e-participation both Dahl’s criteria of democratization (Dahl, 1989) and theories of the policy-cycle ranging from agenda-setting to policy-outcomes are included (Albæk, 2004; Larsen & Goul Andersen, 2004).



References:


Dahl, R.A. (1989). Democracy and its critics. New Haven: Yale University Press.

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