BARACK OBAMA tapped the power of the internet like no other US presidential candidate. He recruited millions of online followers and raised over $500 million via the web. But did this 鈥渘et roots鈥� campaign break down traditional divisions in politics? Alas no, say political scientists.
鈥淥bama recruited millions of online followers and raised over $500 million via the web鈥�
鈥淩eal world鈥� political activities, like writing a letter to an official or signing a petition, are known to vary with income. Almost 80 per cent of those in the wealthiest fifth of the US population get involved, compared with less than 40 per cent in the bottom fifth.
Advertisement
Henry Brady at the University of California, Berkeley, has generated a similar breakdown for online activities, such as emailing politicians or donating money over the web. His survey of more than 2200 people, conducted just prior to last year鈥檚 US elections, reveals that levels of online political activity amongst the most and least wealthy Americans were over 60 per cent compared with about 10 per cent, respectively. The difference persists even when age and internet access are controlled for.
鈥淭he internet hasn鈥檛 changed the fundamental structure of politics,鈥� says Brady, who presented his results at a recent meeting of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in Mountain View, California. However, since users of social networking websites like Facebook show less stratification by income, such sites could help break down barriers, he says.
