The Impact of the Web and Political Balance to e-Democracy

In this paper we explore the relations between the Web, governance individual and collective action. We set three questions which arise in relation to the interaction between the Internet and socio-political dynamics. 1. How do we delineate democracy in these new conditions? 2. Does the Internet create a new crisis of political balance or does it intensify an imbalance of a whole political cycle? 3. How can we explore new forms of political balance based on the reality of the Internet? We explore these complex dynamics from a theoretical perspective proposing a model which combines the theory of minorities with a catnet framework. We run simulation experiments and analyze experimental outcomes. We conclude that the complex relation between the Web, governance models and collective action produces non predictable outcomes and a possible crisis Only a substantial shift in the stance of the state and the authority, bearing the meaning of acceptance of a widen democracy, will create a new balance that will reflect the new conditions. This shift could occur either cooperatively or through a social conflict.