Speakers: Cass Sunstein, Tom Steinberg, Andrew Chadwick, William Davies, Matthew Taylor, Bronwyn Kunhardt, Georgina Henry

The RSA is looking to explore the political culture and norms that the internet has been instrumental in fostering, both in relation to centralised democratic politics, and more diffuse social and civic networks.

Our view is that the high hopes of the 90s for e-democracy and new forms of on-line consultation and community mobilisation have not been fully met.

Rather than fostering new forms of constructive engagement, dialogue and ‘pro-social’ community action, the type of politics most favoured by the internet seems to be conversations between fellow believers, anti-establishment cynicism and single issue mobilisation.

Too many attempts by public authorities to use the web simply involved putting existing information and processes on-line.

The communication model has mostly been vertical and mainly downward. But we think the emergence of what many are calling Web 2.0 offers an opportunity to revive the idealism of a decade ago. We can envisage Web 2.0 encouraging a rich and constructive dialogue in which citizens deliberate, innovate and act together.

This conference will ask: How can new internet technologies empower us to interact with each other in novel ways?

Registration required:

Yes

Free:

Yes