How Technology Can Build A More Stable Democracy
The most celebrated form of government is a democracy and it said to have spread as fast as technology has. Both of these have managed to strike a chord with the masses. The love for democracy and technology has no socio-cultural or economic barrier to overcome. And that is probably why these two go hand in hand.
Gone are the days when propagation of information was a privilege of the government. Technology has made it easy for information to literally fly to different parts of the world in no time. A small case of the fight for human rights in a country could gain help and support from people living hundreds of miles away, with the aid of technology. This has not only brought the world closer, but has also been a major source of support for several anti-government movements.
With access to social media, voicing an opinion has become a cake-walk. It has also become relatively easy to mobilize support for a particular movement. The revolution in India for the Jan-Lokpal bill was powered by technology.
Formation of pressure groups is also an outcome of technological advancements. These groups help in keeping the governmental actions in check and also aid the developmental activities. Social media, which is an outcome of technological advancements, has provided a platform for politicians and people in power to interact with their fellow citizens. This has made registration of complaints and raising of concerns a hassle-free process for citizens who are active users of the internet. Most politicians tweet or post information about their work, often with pictures, which brings them closer to the people. The internet has also made political propaganda more effective. The reach through social media, television, and radio is large.
Now, it has become almost impossible to do anything without the aid of technology. Politics is no exception. Technology empowers citizens of a country to take an active role in their governance and administration, which is the exact role that a democratic population is expected to fulfil.
