global voices, one world

Prof Cappella has worked on the deliberation projects for more than 10 years. A US-oriented perspective.

1. quite heavy usage of ICTs for social and political purpose in china. infrastructure allows it. there is a developing trend that is oriented to particular ideologies and views. cross-space, cross- bbs differences. the diversity is under control though. the diversity is thus un-representative. offline, off-record, coded way to express opinions. – what are the next set of qs? builkalization ppl with similar minds to go to similar websites. what are the consequences of this with regard to changing opinions, political participation, and govnance? how effective are the limits and the tricks to get around this?

2. self-selection to congenial and uncongenial sites. internet is niche-oriented by partisan lines in the us. talia jomini’s dissertation on partisan selective exposure to info.

3. if ppl choose uncongenial media, would they find the info unacceptable to them? individual bias towards disagreeing videos. lauren feldman’s dissertation on exposure to opinionated media content.

4. vince price and cappella’s deliberation study. ppl’s own opinions become more sophisticated after deliberation, more knowledgable about others’ opinions.

5. what are the macro-mechanisms that keep diversity away from the public dialogue? how the limitation is effective in restricting opinion expression.