As all sorts of turnouts have been lowered recently, representative democracy faces a crisis. At this point of time, to analyze positively what factors have effect on political participation and what difference they have could be meaningful. This stud...
As all sorts of turnouts have been lowered recently, representative democracy faces a crisis. At this point of time, to analyze positively what factors have effect on political participation and what difference they have could be meaningful. This study started from this critical mind. Study results are as follows.
First, in terms of the influence of internet use on election and electoral participation, it has a positive effect on age, political efficacy, and information seeking, while having a negative effect on political activities. The analyzed results on the difference of influence showed that information seeking has the most significant effect on election and electoral participation, followed by political activities, political efficacy, and age.
Second, in terms of the influence of internet use on exchange of views and rally participation, it has a positive effect on age, political efficacy, and political activities, while having a negative effect on political cynicism. The difference of influence showed greatest effect on political activities, followed by political efficacy, age, and cynicism.
Third, in terms of the influence of internet use on the engagement in community affairs, it has a positive effect on age and political activities while having a negative effect on proficiency and cynicism. The analyzed results about the difference of influence on the engagement in community affairs showed that political activities have a major effect followed by age, proficiency and cynicism.
Based on the study results, politic suggestions are as follows.
First, in case of the influence on real political participation, the older one was, the higher political participation was shown. The low participation of people in their 10s or 20s has some social problems since they are firstly included in the social system through the political participation. Therefore, greater effort in policy is required not to fix their political indifference. For this, the report behavior of internet media and the change of the politician's attitude should be changed precedently. In addition to this, we need to reinforce the education of politics and society. On the other hand, various discount favor with electoral participation ticket were tried to promote people's participation in the 18th general election 2008, but that was not really caught on. Therefore, more effective incentive system needs to be introduced such as expanding the use of electoral participation ticket.
Second, we could notice that political information on the internet is an important influential factor to election or electoral participation. Hence, precise election or vote information should be carried on the internet and also internet press should remove political compass and try to provide precise political information.
Third, as a tool of election campaign, the easy access of internet and cheap expenses get more affirmative response. But there are general problems in society as well as elections due to the characteristic of internet, easy declaration of intention. So it seemed that actually active participation of netizens didn't attract apolitical people to increase political participation. Therefore, the production and circulation of various UCCs related to politics should be tried to attract political interests and to double political concern by the settlement of debate culture through internet media. Also, punishment on blunt abuses or slanders in replies or debate rooms on the internet is necessary, so reasonable intervention is required because harsh governmental intervention can be a restriction of political participation.
Lastly, political activities on the internet can directly linked to exchange of views, rally participation, or the engagement in community affairs. Therefore positive leading is necessary to invigorate political activities on the internet. Recently(2008) President Lee MyungBak tried to have communication with the nation through TV and radio, but media such as TV or radio have some limits for direct communication. So he will have to double political efficacy through direct communication with the nation using Cheongwadae homepage or his personal blog. And a trial should be made to settle down the culture of careful consideration on the internet.