International Reports 6/2010

Since the Internet forms part of reality and is not a parallel virtual space, it has considerable influence on the different political systems and the associated social and economic conditions. Any euphoria about a global digital community is premature in this context. The articles in this issue illustrate how users are affected by these conditions.

by Gerhard Wahlers

In April 2010, the “Youth Lab” of the governing alliance in Malaysia, Barisan Nasional (BN), published the results of a survey which showed that more than 60 percent of voters below the age of 35 favored neither the BN nor the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat (PR). The young voters surveyed intend to vote at the next election irrespective of any party-political preferences, based solely on which candidate they think represents more important issues or simply appears more confident.

by Paul Linnarz

There are several difficulties when analyzing political communication and new media in Sub-Saharan Africa. The sheer size of the region and the concomitant political, religious, linguistic and cultural heterogeneity this entails make it almost impossible to make any kind of generalizations, since these differences necessarily result in political methods and behaviors that can, and do, vary greatly from one country to another.

by Frank Windeck

Digital Culture and Political Communication in Latin America

In March 2008, Cuba was one of the last countries of the world to loosen its restrictions on the ownership and use of cell phones by private individuals. Previously, restrictions regarding computers and other electronic devices had been lifted already. The consequences are there for all to see. With this step, Cuba too finally moved into the digital age. What is of particular importance for the political opposition in this context is the impact in terms of publicity and visibility.

by Frank Priess

As the Internet age dawned in the late 1990’s, it became cliché to suggest the Internet would “change everything.” Now, more than twenty-five years after the birth of the worldwide web, the Internet has become a central part of the daily lives of people across the planet. It has quickly developed into the hub through which individuals communicate, maintain social relationships, conduct commerce, acquire knowledge, and even entertain themselves.

by Trygve Olson, Terry Nelson

Digital Political Communication as a Source of Information and Exchange Forum for the Opposition

Unlike in Western Europe and most of the new EU member states, political communication in Belarus using new digital media is not discussed with reference to the specific possibilities offered by Web 2.0 for communication between politicians and the public or in relation to digital democracy. Rather, the Internet is considered primarily as a tool for bypassing the censoring in the traditional media (newspapers, radio, and television). This is because no conventional public space exists in Belarus in which people are free to express their political views.

by Stephan Malerius

National borders are increasingly disappearing in our globalized world. New media, such as the Internet, is speeding up these developments. Today, information can be sent around the globe in just a few seconds and accessed by the so-called “global citizen.” The World Wide Web pervades our existence; the young “cyber generation” has grown up with the new technology and is increasingly dependent upon it.

by Regina Larkö (geb. Edelbauer)

Eine Gesellschaft im Wandel

“Malaysia, truly Asia” is the motto with which the government of the south-east Asian tiger economy courts visitors from all over the world; a catchy slogan which not only incorporates the rich biodiversity, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of the country, but also describes a tarnished reality. This includes the rigid social and political conditions under which Malaysia has been governed since its independence in 1957. Reporters Without Borders placed Malaysia 131st on its 2009 ranking of press freedom, just ahead of Singapore and directly behind Thailand.

by Thomas S. Knirsch, Patrick Kratzenstein