Democratic deliberation is a political strategy that seeks to improve collective decision-making. The strategy emphasizes the capacity, opportunity, and right of individuals who are subject to collective decision-making to participate by either themselves or their representatives in the production of consequential deliberation regarding their decision (Cash Course, 2013). On the other hand, citizen engagement incorporates a collection of democratic actions that include deliberative democracy, collaborative governance, participatory democracy, public involvement, and public participation. Therefore, a citizen’s engagement in deliberative democracy is paramount, since it attracts participation in decision-making to the ambit of activities in one’s country, and additionally confirms the global and national responsibility of the citizen (Fishkin, J.S., 2013, par. 18). Consequently, various processes of a given action add up to a citizen’s engagement in deliberative democracy.
Participating in online deliberative democracy, which provides for global and national forum for the publication of videos, audios, and texts about political ideas, implies a meaningful engagement strategy. In addition, online participation enables citizens with similar interests to find one another, spark meaningful conversations, and collectively manage and propel political information using wikis, blogs, and other online tools (Lukensmeyer, C.J. & Hasselbad Torres, L., 2006, par. 8). Furthermore, sophisticated technologies of social networks facilitate for the establishment of overlapping online groups that are eligible to help individuals access various resources, break new stories prior to media’s access, and influence campaigns. Consequently, online political engagement renders one responsible and more involved, since it allows for communication and expression of one’s political ideas using various tools. Additionally, the strategy is of both national and global importance owing to its networking eligibility. Consequently, the online participatory action would help solve various impending issues in a country such as America.
Education and health care issues are impending in the international arena, and engaging in online deliberative democracy would help mitigate the extremes of the issues (Lukensmeyer, C.J. & Hasselbad Torres, L., 2006, par. 14). Therefore, online participation would facilitate the propelling of health care tips that would help citizens manage their eating habits and lifestyles in general. In addition, the strategy would help in the mitigation of educational issues such as increased dropouts, and illustrate the success of various prominent individuals through education (Helpman, E. & Persson, T., 1998). Consequently, students would be able to emulate the educational strategies that the leaders and get motivations to learn. On the other hand, health managers would facilitate for collective decision-making by posting health care tips in various forms, in order to guide patients and individuals on the risk of contracting various diseases (Fishkin, J.S., 2013, par. 20).
Various stakeholders would additionally facilitate for the online spreading of political ideas through political campaigns in social Media, wikis, and blogs. Active stakeholders include Information Technologists and computer teachers, who strive to instill the necessary skills on the use of computers to various citizens (Crash Course, 2013). Equipping citizens with basic computer skills is paramount owing to the large number of illiterate citizens who may not be eligible to receive or propel political ideas through the internet. However, despite the effectiveness of the online participatory strategy, various challenges exist (Fishkin, J.S., 2013, par. 28).
Various citizens may not be in a position to afford money to pay for computer classes due to poverty. In addition, individuals have negative perceptions of blogs and wikis, claiming that the tools spread propaganda and false information. Therefore, in order to manage and mitigate the challenges that accompany the use of online participatory strategy, the government should form policies that facilitate for the provision of free computer classes to a country’s citizens, such as America (Fishkin, J.S., 2013, par. 22). Moreover, the government should facilitate for public education on the importance of technological tools in the propagation of political ideas and sensations.
References
Crash Course. (2013, March 21). The Constitution, the articles, and federalism. Crash Course U.S. History #8. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7FQsCcbD8
Crash Course. (2013, April 11). Thomas Jefferson & his democracy. Crash Course U.S. History #10. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Ox6vGteek
Crash Course. (2013, April 4). Where U.S. politics came from. Crash Course U.S. History #9. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r161cLYzuDI
Fishkin, J.S. (2013). Reviving deliberative democracy. Democracy Gridlocked? Lecture conducted from Royal Academy of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium. Retrieved from http://cdd.stanford.edu/research/papers/2014/fishkin-reviving-deliberative-democracy.pdf
Helpman, E. & Persson, T. (1998). Lobbying and legislative bargaining. NBER Working Paper Series, Working Paper 6589. Retrieved from http://www.nber.org/papers/w6589.pdfHerbick, M. & Isham, J. (2010). The promise of deliberative democracy. Solutions for a Sustainable and Desirable Future, 1(5), 25-27. Retrieved from http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/775
Lukensmeyer, C.J. & Hasselbad Torres, L. (2006). Public deliberation: A manager’s guide to citizen engagement. IBM Center for the Business of Government. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/documents/ostp/opengov_inbox/ibmpubdelib.pdf
