7. Virtual dialogue and democratic community

Abstract

This chapter examines the problematic relationship between our increasing dependence on virtual communication and our need to evoke and maintain democratic values and practices. At the root of any community is the storehouse of its common goods, and the process by which such goods are designated as common is dialogue. Dialogue is characterized by two activities — speaking and active listening — both of which involve the will of the actors to participate. This kind of dialogue becomes especially important in a democratic society when there are differences and disagreements about what constitutes the good. In a diverse and plural society, the communicative practice of dialogue then becomes a critical process for the maintenance and enrichment of the fundamental democratic bond. Failure to sustain authentic dialogue leads to social fragmentation and isolation and to the erosion of democratic community. In what ways do today's media of communication in America — television, radio, and, especially, the Internet — enhance or constrain the possibilities for the authentic communication necessary to sustain democracy?

Citation

Evans, K.G. (2002), "7. Virtual dialogue and democratic community", Roberts, N.C. (Ed.) The Transformative Power of Dialogue (Research in Public Policy Analysis and Management, Vol. 12), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 157-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0732-1317(02)12009-4