Individual Submission Summary
Share...

Direct link:

Is E-petitioning A Real Political Opportunity for Disadvantaged Groups?

Sun, May 27, 12:30 to 13:45, Hilton Prague, Floor: LL, Congress Hall II - Exhibit Hall/Posters

Abstract

Women and ethnic minorities have been widely studied for their disadvantages in existing offline political structures. It is also believed that innovative online venues such as e-petitioning would be new political opportunities for these originally disadvantaged groups. However, the empirical studies on online participation are yet insufficient to support this prominent expectation, while concerns that internet may reinforce the offline political disparity rather than promoting democracy still exists. This study is designated to explore the official e-petitioning website launched 6 years ago in the United States to test whether voices for women and ethnic minorities have been promoted through e-petitioning. 287 successful petitions which have gained enormous public support and reached signature thresholds for governmental responses were investigated. The development of the platform, topics being petitioned, signature distribution patterns and temporal signing dynamics are measured and examined with a specific focus on voices for those disadvantaged groups.

Author