Interconnectivity is a powerful predictor of democracy, more so than any of democracy’s traditional correlates. Measurable effects of this technology on global democracy resonate with arguments to justify a national universal e-mail system: E-mail can help vitalize or reinvigorate democratic governance … The United States should support increased connectivity abroad, as this may aid the spread of democracy. Second, and more broadly, the development of a national e-mail system must consider the international implications.
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: ”Interconnectivity is a powerful predictor of democracy, more so than any of democracy’s traditional correlates. Measurable effects of this technology on global democracy resonate with arguments to justify a national universal e-mail system: E-mail can help vitalize or reinvigorate democratic governance … The United States should support increased connectivity abroad, as this may aid the spread of democracy. Second, and more broadly, the development of a national e-mail system must consider the international implications. Worldwide democratization is both a critical and demonstratable implication, but there are others. Previous chapters have alluded to standardization and security, for example. ‘National’ in the context of e-mail is at best a misnomer; at worse, it could mislead policy. Policies that derive specifically from a commitment to universalize e-mail within this country will interact with and affect events far beyond the domestic milieu.”
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