[ecrea] cfp: MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Lithuanian Political Science Association
Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University
Lithuanian Political Science Association
Call for papers
International Conference
MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK IN THE DIGITAL AGE
5-6 November 2009, Vilnius, Lithuania
During the last decades there has been much 
discussion about the deepening problems of
democracy such as diminishing electoral turnout, 
increasing dissatisfaction with political
institutions, transformation of politics into a 
political spectacle. These problems raise the question
of the effectiveness and the meaning of the 
traditional democratic mechanisms in the contemporary
society and point to the need to look for new 
forms of communication between citizens and
government, based on the creative use of the 
opportunities offered by new information and
communication technologies.
The conference addresses the question whether and 
how new information technologies can improve
the quality of democracy. Might they help solving 
the problems of democratic mechanisms, or
should we reconsider the major assumptions of the 
functioning of democracy in an advanced postindustrial
society? Can new technologies reactivate 
traditional mechanisms (for example, voting as
an essential element of democracy), or should we 
search for new means and new vital forms of
civic involvement that would guarantee the 
effective implementation of democratic principles in a
postmodern society?
We invite proposals for papers to address the following themes:
? Transformation of political engagement and new 
forms of online political activism
? Internet and party politics: will the Internet 
save or erode political parties?
? Transformation of public sphere and online political deliberation
? Internet in electoral campaigns
? E-governance and e-participation
? E-democracy innovations
The Conference is organized by the Institute of 
International Relations and Political Science,
Vilnius University and Lithuanian Political 
Science Association. It is sponsored by the Lithuanian
State Science and Studies Foundation.
Venue: Institute of International Relations and 
Political Science, Vilnius University
(Vokieciu str. 10, Vilnius)
Conference working languages: English and Lithuanian
Applications (consisting of an abstract no longer 
than 500 words and a short academic CV) should
be sent to (galina.vascenkaite /at/ tspmi.vu.lt). The 
deadline for applications is 21 September 2009.
Accepted papers will be notified by 12 October, 2009.
There is no conference fee. The organizers will 
cover accommodation costs of paper givers. Limited
number of travel grants is available for 
participants who do not have other sources of funding to
attend the conference. To apply for the travel 
grant please contact (galina.vascenkaite /at/ tspmi.vu.lt).
More information: www.e-democracy.lt
Contacts:
Galina Vascenkaite
Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University
Vokieciu str. 10
LT ? 01130 Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel. +370 (5) 2514148
Fax: +370 (5) 2514134
e-mail: (galina.vascenkaite /at/ tspmi.vu.lt)
http://www.tspmi.vu.lt

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Nico Carpentier (Phd)
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Free University of Brussels
Centre for Studies on Media and Culture (CeMeSO)
Pleinlaan 2 - B-1050 Brussels - Belgium
T: ++ 32 (0)2-629.18.56
F: ++ 32 (0)2-629.36.84
Office: 5B.401a
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European Communication Research and Education Association
Web: http://www.ecrea.eu
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E-mail: (Nico.Carpentier /at/ vub.ac.be)
Web: http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~ncarpent/
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