I had an email from a friend on Friday telling me she was backing Obama in the US elections. She’s not American but said that British politics was boring at the moment – although perhaps it is fairer to stay stagnant when compared to the thrill of an election.
Dave Winer and Doc Searls have some great insights about how US – and by extension, UK – politics could empower the citizen through a change in politicians’ attitudes towards the collective electorate.
Doc suggests that just as in commercial markets, politics is built around three areas:
1. Transaction
2. Conversation
3. Relationship
Again, just as in business the links between all three are disproportionately weighted towards what Doc calls “big money” and away from (disenfranchising) the public/citizens.
The socialisation of the internet, disintermediation of business/politics and empowerment of individuals clearly has the potential to change this.
It all sounds good, however I’m conscious about not equating ‘socialisation’ with ‘socialism’ – although there are strong arguments for taking that line.
Read more from Doc here and Dave here.
There’s so much great political campaign work being pioneered in the US at the moment, but I wonder how much of it will cross the Atlantic in 2009?
Technorati tags: US elections, politics
It’s true, but if you did a cultural analysis of Westminster, you would find it had closed boundaries and operated mainly by one-way communication. It doesn’t have the culture for transaction,conversation
and relationship building.
Maybe Gordon Brown will surprise us and start writing a blog.