Cyberage Politics 101

Popular Politics and Governance in America, a series of books on contemporary political science, seeks to publish scholarly and teaching materials about the processes of popular politics and the operations of governmental institutions at both the national and state levels. Although many titles in this series will appeal to graduate and professional audiences, they will employ qualitative and quantitative analysis in fashions primarily appropriate for undergraduate classrooms.

Changes in lifestyles and technology have confronted modern American democracy with significant challenges. Traditional geographic ties to communities and elected officials have been disrupted by physical mobility. Democracy depends on active citizen involvement, which requires information. New technologies have changed the way individuals gather, use, and distribute information. The traditional bases of community and collective knowledge that motivate and facilitate political involvement are under unintentional assault. Citizens and political practitioners alike need to recognize these challenges and find ways to overcome them in a manner supportive of democracy.

Autorentext

The Author: Stephen E. Frantzich is Professor of Political Science at the U.S. Naval Academy. He has served as a consultant to C-SPAN, the U.S. Congress, the American Political Science Association, and a variety of foreign governments. An award-winning teacher, Professor Frantzich has also written on the impact of technology on politics and the role of citizens. Committed to the creative and judicious use of technology, two of his texts are now available in interactive format online. His recent books include The C-SPAN Revolution and Citizen Democracy: Citizen Activists in a Cynical Age.