European Parliament

European Elections and the Internet


Co-organisateurs: Norbert Kersting (Stellenbosch University) and Philippe J. Maarek (Université Paris Est - UPEC)
Saturday 20 March. Room M1. 9.00-12.00
Supported by IPSA RC 10 Electronic Democracy and RC 22 Political Communication

Website of the IPSA conference : http://luxembourg2010.org/

Outline:
The panel "European elections and the Internet" is proposed both by the RC10 "Electronic Democracy" and the RC22 "Political Communication". This panel issue is concerned with the use of e-democracy instruments during the last European elections in 27 countries in June 2009. The panel will analyse the implementation of e-campaigns and e-voting in different European countries. The Internet is often associated with the professionalization, diversification and increased inclusiveness in the voting process as well as the electoral campaigns. Problems of exclusion, trustworthiness and identity will be discussed as well as campaign related issues of targeting, personalisation, complexity and a trend to sound bytes and negative campaigning. The US presidential election 2009 were seen as a cornerstone in the use of e-campaigning. Is Europe adopting these strategies or are there new instruments? More precisely, we propose to explore five directions of research which are closely connected together. Staring with a general overview of electronic voting in relation to European elections the further focus is more on the professionalization of online campaigns. How useful is the internet in expanding the audiences through websites and social networks? Are new "participative campaigns" emerging substituting traditional "folkloric street campaigning"? Finally new E-tools to favour the formation of voters' preferences will be presented and analysed.

Papers:
i.Communicating Participation: The Institutional Communication On The Web In The European Elections 2009 (Tommaso Ederoclite, University of Naples "Federico II")

ii.Opportunity for Political Participation or Mimicry of Political Parties? The Internet Communication Of Political Youth Organizations During The EU Election Campaign 2009 (Fabienne Greffet, University of Nancy 2; Stéphanie Wojcik, University of Paris-Est Créteil)

iii.Informing, Engaging, Mobilising Or Interacting: Searching For A European Model Of Web Campaigning (Darren Lilleker, Bournemouth University; Karolina Koc Michalska, Sciences-Po, Paris – Nancy; Eva Schweitzer, University of Mainz; Michal Jacunski, Wroclaw University)

iv.The Real Political Power of the Internet: Facebook, a Possible New Hub of European Elections? (Marta Marcheva, IFP/CARISM Université Panthéon-Assas Paris II)

v.European Elections Online In Italy: Towards A Campaigning 2.0? (Giovanna Mascheroni, University of Torino; Sara Minucci, University of Torino)

vi.The impact of Voting Advice Applications on Voting (Alexander H. Trechsel, European University Institute)