Autor :  Nikolaus Röttger
E-mail: nroettger@e-politik.de
Artikel vom: 19.09.2000

Introduction

We are facing the first generation being grown up with the Internet. But it is not a whole generation being grown up with the Internet. This still is just a part of a generation and even a smaller part of whole society in Europe. Most of the people live outside of the digitalized world or have big problems on understanding or on using it.

In fact the Internet is changing the world we live in. The Internet is changing business to e-business, commerce to e-commerce, the old economy to a new economy, communication is added for e-mail and chat, politics for e-politics and government for e-government. Digitalization coming along with the Internet does change our whole society.

This is why you cannot talk about sustainability without talking about the impact of the Net and Information-Technologies on politics and society. Future is made in, with and through the Internet.

The Digitalization happening right now is revolutionary. It is surmounting time and distance, shortening cycles of everything and declining costs.
All those revolutionary changes are happening very fast. But people tend to change habits and behaviour very slowly. This is why a big clash exists between the changes in society and individuals who have to follow them. But not only individuals have problems to follow. Politics and society can neither. Reaction often comes too late. Reaction itself is already too late. Action is needed. In the new economy people compare one "Internet-year" to three years of the old economy. As the impacts are real and not virtual at all, Digitalization forces to act fast. It is more than time to act now and to respond on the changes which influence our all future.

Therefore new policies towards the new society have to be invented and implemented. The main tasks are creating a kind of framework without regulation it too much, a consciousness for the Internet and the same conditions for everybody everywhere. At the same time politics has to be aware of the changes on society, politics and democracy. The basis for tackling those challenges has to be sustainability.

In spite of the differences between cultures and nationalities inside European territory, the transformations that are occurring by the global communication network - Internet - are, without a doubt, a unifying factor. Due to this society development, democracy, as other issues, is facing a rapid change within itself. In the last two decades, Europe has faced a crisis in the traditional political system. For instance, a distance between civil society and their decision makers has been created, mainly noticed in the abstentions rates and in the increasing lack of interest about political issues. Besides that, political parties have grown weaker in stable ideological aspects, motivating the apathy of the standard citizen.

Therefore, Internet has become a way of transforming this situation, especially the concept of citizenship. People are often made to participate in the decision process in a different way. The publicity that some issues have in the Internet can take them from a local basis to a global framework analysis, thus creating a broader consciousness and a larger possibility to participate and feel responsible for the modern problems.

The NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) play a dynamic role in this process. Without ideological matters to attend to, they trace goals which can be achieved by the enlargement of the messages´ impact given by the Internet. This sets individual responsibility above traditional political issues and may actually affect the decision making process.

1. Modern societies are being influenced by the arise of a New Democracy: from a "tired" traditional political system to a direct citizen participation system.

2. This new system is being conducted by the abilities of self-media as Internet, offering the society an effective power in political terms.

3. The main agents of this "revolution" are organized groups such as NGOs, who are willing to promoting a civil discussion and to pressuring positively the decision making.

1. We believe that the decision making process should be reformulated, in order to consider these transformations. That can be done throughout close cooperation between governments and informal organizations, as relevant NGOs;

2. The work done by these NGOs should be considered as valid and effective in political participation. Thus there should be an actual agreement between them and official authorities;

3. In addiction to this, the political system should cooperate with the web generation - the net generation -, so that they can be taken as responsable political agents, creating effective discussion areas and using new technologies and Internet.

Due to the incredible growing process of the Internet network, it is impossible to accurately evaluate its extension. The topic of regulation has been always an object of discussion, therefore we must bear in mind that we are not talking about censorship, but the drawing of some guidance rules which do not fit in the actual law. Thinking of all the positive effects the Internet has, you must not forget that it is on the one hand uncontrollable because of the mass of information. And due to this it is on the other hand an easy way to spread criminal activity or violation of human rights.

In spite of this, the network must respect terms such as citizenship and responsibility - and we know they are not, in most of times, respected. The theme of regulation has been always an object of discussion, therefore we must bear in mind that we are not talking about censorship, but the drawing of some guidance rules which do not fit in the actual law.

It is a fact that there are some network´s utilizations that are not established or regulated. Thus, we believe that the political system should respect and guarantee the responsibility and rights of the users thoughout general guidance lines.

1. We propose the creation of a global Table of Internet Rights an Duties, not only concerning individual users, but also private enterprises.

2. Internet-users themselves have to develop an Internet-social courage.

3. The decision makers should also establish organizations (non governmental organizations) that could be able to protect the citizen who uses the net. This kind of regulation has to guarantee the exchange of free opinions and offer a basis of consciousness to the users.

4. Internet Governance has to go further than just controlling IP-addresses.

5. Internet Governance has to be done on international level on consensus between all the players concerned.

Internet is a powerful mean of information , education and communication; thus, it is a basis of social organization in general terms. Due to its development , the access issue should be immediate and done with such a care that responsibility will not be forgotten.

At the last G8 meeting held in Japan (July 2000) the represented Heads of states decided to launch a program, in order to get the third world countries conncted to the net and to support them in their efforts of introducing the new technologies. We believe, that this initiative, thus mainly based on economic interests, is a first step towards the end of the division of the world Have and Have-nots, which meands those, who have access to the Internet, and those, who have not.

In general terms that issue entails two main directions: the Have/Have-nots problem between development such as poor and rich countries (north and soul) and the problem inside developed countries. The first one is an object of worrying, the world wide community, the second one is present on Europe´s modern issues.

Inside the rich countries like the USA or Europe, a lot of business is already done via the Internet. Joboffers, cheaper goods or better services are many time already only accessible to those with Internet access. The others, the Have-nots, are, more or less, disadvantaged, especially if you take into account, that these are the poorer, less educated or powerless (children) parts of society. Different European countries and the European Union have launched programs on the topic information society. Even if this intention is to welcome, they should put a much bigger amphasis on the equality and social issue not only concentrating on the economic side of the Internet.

This is also the point of the division between poor and rich countries. The Internet and the changes coming along with it are a big opportunity to take the poor countries "on the boat". Otherwise we will face an even bigger division. Most of those people there do not even have access to a telephone, not even to mention all those who live under inhuman conditions.

1. It is a fact that the decision makers are already concerned with global and massive access to the web. In spite of this, the idea of a global network within European societies should be reinforced mostly in the developing countries of eastern Europe.

2. Due to present circumstances we strongly believe that there is a growing gap between generations inside European societies.

3. Not all people are participating or able to participate in the Internet.

4. If the poorer or less developed countries are let out of the current Digitalization process, the existing gap will even deepen.

1. There should be governmental initiatives to promote the Internet formation inside the educational system, beginning with children, regarding the future.

2. In global terms, due to the gap of generations concerning the use of the net, it is necessary to find a formation work for the older generations, in order to improve the social cohesion.

3. All people need access to the Internet.

4. Be part of the Internet! Politicans, people and society have to participate in the Internet to bring and use the Internet in its positive way.

5. The Internet has to become cheaper and to accessible to everyone. It has to be guaranteed that there is a possibility to everyone to get public access to the Net and use it.

6. Poorer or less developed countries have to be integrated into the process of Digitalization. We demand active and fast support for these countries especially within Europe and outside Europe.