The Perspectives of Democratic Decision-Making in the Information Society

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the viability of three ideal types—net optimism, net pessimism, and net neutrality—in understanding democratic decision-making in the digital information society.

Contribution

It revisits and evaluates Hubertus Buchstein's three ideal types from a contemporary perspective on digital democracy.

Findings

The ideal types provide useful frameworks for analyzing digital democracy.

Current developments challenge the simplicity of the three ideal types.

The study offers nuanced insights into democratic potentials and challenges in the digital age.

Abstract

In order to structure the debate on the democratic potentials of digital information technology Hubertus Buchstein in 1996 created three ideal types, net optimism, net pessimism and net neutrality. In this study the viability of these positions is put under scrutiny from a current viewpoint.