Imaginaries of the Digital: Ambiguity, Power and the Question of Agency
This paper considers both the empowering and the disempowering features of the digital environment in relation to the scope for individual and collective agency to shape the mediated environment. Digitally mediated life is disempowering for citizens much of the time as a result of power asymmetries...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Université du Québec à Montréal
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Communiquer |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/communiquer/2261 |
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| _version_ | 1850121705220997120 |
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| author | Robin Mansell |
| author_facet | Robin Mansell |
| author_sort | Robin Mansell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper considers both the empowering and the disempowering features of the digital environment in relation to the scope for individual and collective agency to shape the mediated environment. Digitally mediated life is disempowering for citizens much of the time as a result of power asymmetries framed by global capitalism. It is misleading, however, to suggest that digitally mediated communication is always exploitative. It is argued that the power dynamics within the prevailing digital governance regime need to be understood. Analysis of these dynamics often suggests that online participation coincides with a deterioration in the choices available to citizens, but contradictory dynamics nevertheless may yield opportunities for citizen empowerment and choice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6718173417da4504b20999f595ebcee8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2368-9587 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | Université du Québec à Montréal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communiquer |
| spelling | doaj-art-6718173417da4504b20999f595ebcee82025-08-20T02:35:00ZengUniversité du Québec à MontréalCommuniquer2368-95872017-09-0120404810.4000/communiquer.2261Imaginaries of the Digital: Ambiguity, Power and the Question of AgencyRobin MansellThis paper considers both the empowering and the disempowering features of the digital environment in relation to the scope for individual and collective agency to shape the mediated environment. Digitally mediated life is disempowering for citizens much of the time as a result of power asymmetries framed by global capitalism. It is misleading, however, to suggest that digitally mediated communication is always exploitative. It is argued that the power dynamics within the prevailing digital governance regime need to be understood. Analysis of these dynamics often suggests that online participation coincides with a deterioration in the choices available to citizens, but contradictory dynamics nevertheless may yield opportunities for citizen empowerment and choice.https://journals.openedition.org/communiquer/2261digital governancemediated communicationcitizen empowermentpowerInternet |
| spellingShingle | Robin Mansell Imaginaries of the Digital: Ambiguity, Power and the Question of Agency Communiquer digital governance mediated communication citizen empowerment power Internet |
| title | Imaginaries of the Digital: Ambiguity, Power and the Question of Agency |
| title_full | Imaginaries of the Digital: Ambiguity, Power and the Question of Agency |
| title_fullStr | Imaginaries of the Digital: Ambiguity, Power and the Question of Agency |
| title_full_unstemmed | Imaginaries of the Digital: Ambiguity, Power and the Question of Agency |
| title_short | Imaginaries of the Digital: Ambiguity, Power and the Question of Agency |
| title_sort | imaginaries of the digital ambiguity power and the question of agency |
| topic | digital governance mediated communication citizen empowerment power Internet |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/communiquer/2261 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robinmansell imaginariesofthedigitalambiguitypowerandthequestionofagency |