Formal and informal e-mail assist relationships in transcending national frontiers. Universal e-mail in the United States, with abundant international connections can help to spread the seeds of democracy even to nondemocratic lands. Global democratization is critically important to the future of democracy in America.
Predictor: Kedzie, Christopher
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 research presentation, Christopher Kedzie, then a doctoral fellow at RAND Graduate School, discussed democracy and new technologies. Prior to his arrival at RAND, he was a founder and director of organizations in both Ukraine and Uzbekistan which exploited information technologies to support economic and political reform. He writes: ”We have argued that electronic mail networks create social capital by strengthening the mission-oriented and interpersonal ties within online communities … Since the technology, unconstrained by geographic borders and political barriers, shrinks the globe, the effect of interconnectivity on democracy worldwide is only one of myriad international implications warranting particular attention. Increasingly, formal and informal e-mail assist relationships in transcending national frontiers. Universal e-mail in the United States, with abundant international connections can help to spread the seeds of democracy even to nondemocratic lands. Global democratization is critically important to the future of democracy in America.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Communication
Subtopic: E-mail
Name of publication: RAND publications online
Title, headline, chapter name: International Implications for Global Democratization
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.isoc.org/HMP/PAPER/134/html/paper.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney