Open AccessMobilizers Mobilized: Information, Expression, Mobilization and Participation in the Digital Age
Author(s) -
Rojas Hernando,
PuigiAbril Eulalia
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of computer‐mediated communication
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.15
H-Index - 119
ISSN - 1083-6101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2009.01475.x
Subject(s) - mobilization , citizen journalism , context (archaeology) , democracy , politics , information and communications technology , the internet , political science , icts , civic engagement , online and offline , population , public relations , community mobilization , sociology , geography , computer science , law , demography , archaeology , world wide web
This study assesses differences in use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and relates them to patterns of expressive political participation, mobilization efforts, and traditional civic participation. Relying on data collected in August 2008 from a random sample of respondents designed to represent Colombia's adult urban population, this paper provides evidence that informational uses of ICTs (Internet and mobile phones) are significantly related to expressive participation in the online domain, which in turn results in a host of traditional or offline civic and political participatory behaviors indirectly through mobilization efforts. That these relationships occur within the context of a society in crisis suggests that new communication technologies offer an additional pathway to democratic political engagement in such societies.