%0 Journal Article %T Online Community and Democracy %J Journal of Cyberspace Studies %I University of Tehran on behalf of the "Cyberspace Research Policy Center" and the "UNESCO Chair on Cyberspace and Culture: Dual Spacization of the World" %Z 2588-5499 %A Feenberg, Andrew %D 2017 %\ 01/01/2017 %V 1 %N 1 %P 37-60 %! Online Community and Democracy %K online community %K Democracy %K the information model %K the consumption model %K the community model %R %X The debate over the contribution of the Internet to democracy is farfrom settled. Some point to the empowering effects of online discussionand fund raising on recent electoral campaigns in the US to argue thatthe Internet will restore the public sphere. Others claim that the Internetis just a virtual mall, a final extension of global capitalism into everycorner of our lives. This paper argues for the democratic thesis withsome qualifications. The most important contribution of the Internetto democracy is not necessarily its effects on the electoral process butrather its ability to assemble a public around technical networks thatenroll individuals scattered over wide geographical areas. Medicalpatients, video game players, musical performers, and many otherpublics have emerged on the Internet with surprising consequences. %U https://jcss.ut.ac.ir/article_59869_3cb0d2d350f8fdfb29ca921711e669b5.pdf