With the proliferation of electronic technologies in the latter part

With the proliferation of electronic technologies in the latter part of the twentieth century, many aspects of cultural practice have been redefined. The eradication of physical boundaries that limit discourse and information access has had profound effects upon the manner in which we conduct democracy. Yet, opinions strongly differ over whether or not the growth of electronic networks will result in expanded democracy. On one side of the debate are anti-utopians who fear that with the intrusion of the Internet into many facets of life, personal freedom will be impeded and the existing rift between the "haves" and "have-nots" in society will grow. On the other side, many 'cyber-utopians' believe that new technologies can eliminate the democracy of elected representatives with which so many people are dissatisfied. The Internet, they say, will allow for a true participatory democracy in which citizens can govern themselves without the interference of bureaucrats and legislators. Neither of these theories by themselves can fully address the role of democracy in the age of information. As debates about censorship and encryption have shown, government regulation of the Internet can result in violations of the basic rights of speech set forth in the constitution of the United States. Yet, groups that preach ‘Big Brother’ theories of paranoia tend to neglect the fact that new technologies can help balance the injustices of traditional power found in a centralized government. At the same time, the likelihood of doing away with the present system of democracy in favor of complete and pure self-governance seems impossible, and likely undesirable. Both arguments about the future of the way in which discourse will occur highlight the inherent relationship between communication and democracy. Perhaps a more useful model for the study of this dynamic can be found in the model of the public sphere proposed by Jorgen Habermas. In this realm, free and diverse equals come together to deliberate and discuss pertinent issues without the impediment of external coercion. The ensuing dialogue transpires in a profoundly democratic forum. The dispensing of traditional hierarchies that occurs on the Internet appears to make possible the type of categories necessary for Habermas ‘ideal speech situation to occur.

However, postmodern critics indicate that the autonomous individual no longer exists in a world where our identities are constructed as much for us as by us. And indeed, much of the postmodern notion of self seems to fit closely with reconfigurations of the subject brought on by electronic technologies. The question that arises then is, how might the reconfiguration of communication enabled by the Internet work to create a new form of 'cyber-democracy’ that better represents citizens' interests?

1. According to the passage, the 'cyber-utopians' mentioned in the passage would most likely be in favor of which of the following innovations?

A. Every new legislation would be voted by every registered voter on the Internet
B. Government would increase the regulation of the Internet to include a curtailing of politically biased messages
C. Government would decrease the regulation of the Internet including regulation of politically biased messages
D. Discourse in legislative assemblies would be broadcast over the Internet
E. New technologies would gradually replace all forms of democracy


2. The passage supports which of the following statements about government regulation of the Internet?

A. Government regulation of the Internet can result in infringements upon citizen’s constitutional rights of free speech
B. Government regulation of the Internet can ensure against infringements upon citizen’s constitutional rights of free speech
C. Government regulation of the Internet will make pure self-governance possible
D. Government regulation of the Internet will promote new technologies that can help balance the injustices of traditional power
E. Government regulation of the Internet will eradicate physical boundaries that limit discourse and information


3. The author is primarily concerned with

A. Advocating the use of the electronic technologies to improve democracy
B. Challenging the assumptions on which a theory of modern democracy is based
C. Describing events leading to the discovery of democratic uses of electronic technologies
D. Explaining the importance of electronic technologies to modern politics
E. Examining the relationship between Internet communication and democracy


4. According to the passage, which of the following is considered by postmodern critics to be a threat to the notion of self?

A. The interference of bureaucrats and legislators.
B. The proliferation of electronic technologies.
C. Reconfigurations of the subject brought on by electronic technologies.
D. Traditional hierarchies that occur on the Internet.
E. The impediment of external coercion.