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https://hdl.handle.net/10216/79883| Author(s): | Sam Ath Kim |
| Title: | How Cambodian Politicians Explore Web 2.0 to Connect with Citizens and Build Forms of Participatory Democracy |
| Issue Date: | 2015-07-27 |
| Abstract: | This research study, mainly revealing that Web 2.0 has a contribution to the political connection between politicians and citizens, and participatory democracy building in Cambodia, examine the uses of Facebook by Cambodian politicians. We employed qualitative method by using online survey with 22 Cambodian politicians from ruling and opposition party and by doing content analysis on their Facebook account as well as getting the conclusive recommendation from four media/ political experts in Cambodia. This study tries to perform a deep study about participatory democracy on social media. Regarding this, the study (1) explores how Cambodian politicians use Web 2.0 for political connection and engagement; (2) identifies motivations and reasons behind online usage; (3) examines their attitude of politicians towards social media, and (4) analyse impacts of their online usage to participatory democracy building. The ultimate conclusion of this study reveals the possible effects of their online activities in the process of political connection and participatory democracy building. Based on this study, the role of social media bridged the communication gap between politicians and citizens by providing political opportunities for direct engagement between politicians and grass roots, such as in contributing to party's campaigns, or even demonstration, participating in political debate and decision making on social and political issues affecting them and society. This consequence of this situation developed participatory democracy in Cambodia. Key Terms: Web 2.0, Social media, Facebook, Politics, Politicians, Political connection, Political engagement, Political party, Participatory democracy. |
| Description: | Since main stream media has been controlled by the ruling party and the number of internet users in Cambodia is increasing every day, Cambodian politicians have paid much attention on internet to benefit from being presence on Web 2.0. Cambodia's national election 2013 marked the role of social media in bridging the communication gap between politicians and citizens. Before, during and after the National Election 2013, politicians from political parties explored Web 2.0 to connect with internet users, promote their political party and build participatory democracy. During the study, 22 Facebook accounts have been followed and recorded for three months and we analysed their Facebook accounts by means of qualitative content analysis technique. All information of the each politician's account such as number of posts and comments and information shared for each accounts; topics, themes, and its contents etc. have been examined. After an extensive literature review and some semi-structured interviews with some experts, we created an online questionnaire and asked all politicians elected for National Assembly 2013 to fill in. Then, we performed a content analysis to Facebook of politicians. The idea is to compare answers of Cambodian politicians and their real actions on the internet. Then we asked political experts to evaluate their online activities in order to conclude whether or not their exploration in Web 2.0 can build participatory democracy in Cambodia. This study tries to fill a gap in the literature, studying the status of participatory democracy in Cambodia, a country with low internet access and a fragile democracy. |
| Subject: | Ciências da engenharia e tecnologias Engineering and technology |
| Scientific areas: | Ciências da engenharia e tecnologias Engineering and technology |
| TID identifier: | 201808340 |
| URI: | https://hdl.handle.net/10216/79883 |
| Document Type: | Dissertação |
| Rights: | openAccess |
| License: | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
| Appears in Collections: | FEUP - Dissertação |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36143.pdf | How Cambodian Politicians Explore Web 2.0 to Connect with Citizens and Build Forms of Participatory Democracy | 2.66 MB | Adobe PDF |  View/Open |
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