Open AccessVirtual Capital? Internet Competence and Political Participation in Denmark
Author(s) -
Jens Hoff
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
mediekultur
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1901-9726
pISSN - 0900-9671
DOI - 10.7146/mediekultur.v22i40.1320
Subject(s) - danish , politics , the internet , possession (linguistics) , competence (human resources) , political capital , capital (architecture) , political science , public relations , sociology , social psychology , psychology , law , computer science , world wide web , geography , philosophy , linguistics , archaeology
On the basis of data from a Danish nationwide representative survey, \udthis article demonstrates, firstly, that virtual capital (compentence in \udusing the internet) is a personal resource in its own right, independent \udof other types of personal resources. Secondly, it is demonstrated that \udthere is a positive correlation between virtual capital and political parti-\udcipation and political efficacy. Thirdly, the article shows that for persons \udwith a high level of virtual capital, the possession of virtual capital appe-\udars to neutralize or overshadow the effect of education on political par-\udticipation and political efficacy. The article points to the fact that the In-\udternet enlarges the "opportunity structure" for the individual, thereby \udmaking it easier to find out about and participate in different activities, \udamong these politics. Finally, the article discusses the question of \udwhether "super-users" might be seen as (a part of) the so-called \ud"creative class"