The Virtual Sphere: The Internet as a Public Sphere

Öz

The internet and its surrounding technologies hold the promise of reviving the public sphere; however, several aspects of these new technologies simultaneously curtail and augment that potential. First, the data storage and retrieval capabilities of internet-based technologies infuse political discussion with information otherwise unavailable. At the same time, information access inequalities and new media literacy compromise the representativeness of the virtual sphere. Second, internet-based technologies enable discussion between people on far sides of the globe, but also frequently fragmentize political discourse. Third, given the patterns of global capitalism, it is possible that internet- based technologies will adapt themselves to the current political culture, rather than create a new one. The internet and related technologies have created a new public space for politically oriented conversation; whether this public space transcends to a public sphere is not up to the technology itself.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• cyberspace
• information
• internet
• political
• public
• sphere
• technology
• virtual

Sanal Mekan: Kamusal Bir Mekân Olarak İnternet

Öz

İnternet ve onu çevreleyen teknolojiler, kamusal mekanı yeniden canlandırma vaadini taşımaktadır; ancak bu yeni teknolojilerin çeşitli yönleri eş zamanlı olarak bu potansiyeli azaltmakta ve arttırmaktadır. Birincisi, internet tabanlı teknolojilerin veri depolama ve bilgiye erişme kabiliyetleri, siyasi tartışmayı başka türlü var olmayan enformasyon ile doldurur. Aynı zamanda enformasyona erişmedeki eşitsizlikler ve yeni medya okuryazarlığı sanal mekanın temsil edilebilirliğini tehlikeye atmaktadır. İkincisi, internet tabanlı teknolojiler dünyanın uzak yerlerindeki insanlar arasında tartışmayı mümkün kılmakta, fakat bununla birlikte çoğu zaman politik söylemi de parçalarına ayırmaktadır. Üçüncüsü, küresel kapitalizmin kalıpları göz önüne alındığında, internet tabanlı teknolojilerin yeni bir kültür yaratmaktan ziyade kendilerini mevcut siyasi kültüre uyarlaması mümkündür. İnternet ve bağlı teknolojiler, teknolojinin kendisine bağlı olmayan bir kamusal mekana dönüşse de dönüşmese de, siyasi odaklı diyalog için yeni bir kamusal alan yaratmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• sibermekan
• enformasyon
• internet
• siyasal
• kamu
• mekan
• teknoloji
• sanal

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