Does contemporary Internet technology strengthen civic engagement and democratic practice? The recent surge in online community participation has become a cultural phenomenon enmeshed in ongoing debates about the health of American civil society. But observations about online communities often concentrate on ascertaining the true nature of community and democracy, typically rehearsing familiar communitarian and liberal perspectives. This book seeks to understand the technology on its own terms, focusing on how the technological and organizational configurations of online communities frame our contemporary beliefs and assumptions about community and the individual. It analyzes key structural features of thirty award-winning online community websites to show that while the values of individual autonomy, egalitarianism, and freedom of speech dominate the discursive content of these communities, the practical realities of online life are clearly marked by exclusivity and the demands of commercialization and corporate surveillance. Promises of social empowerment are framed within consumer and therapeutic frameworks that undermine their democratic efficacy. As a result, online communities fail to revolutionize the civic landscape because they create cultures of membership that epitomize the commodification of community and public life altogether.
Participating in God claims that a doctrine of the Trinity cannot be developed in isolation from pastoral experience.
"Offers a new and different way of looking at Community. It takes a behind the scenes look at people who help us in our everyday lives, providing a lowdown on how things work and who does what"--Back cover.
If you are curious about how the power of community can transform the way business works, and has the potential to change the world, this book is for you."--Back cover
Assessing People's Perceptions of Their Neighbourhood and Community Involvement: A guide to questions for use in the measurement of social...
Health Improvement Programmes: Research Into Practice : a Briefing for Local Partnerships Involved in Health Improvement Programmes
Bob Harkins , in fact , was just like John : they had a shared interest in fishing , they were both storytellers , and they loved people . ” Bob Harkins is a former alderman in the city , a local radio personality , and one of those ...
This is a community of place where the key criterion for membership is residence within the neighbourhood and the boundary of the neighbourhood is clearly demarcated in physical terms (Mooney and Neal, 2009, p 20 – but see the original ...
Town Hall 81 ฟ ชั่ นท ร์ - บ้าน ยาง - ชนก ปาน - ชา มโน - ไป ไกล TOWN HALL V our local town hall is bustling with activity ! That's where people register to vote and where they can learn about the history of a house or building . * !
The Concept of Community: Readings with Interpretations
What's a Community?