[Advisors] Let community re-think community
Garth Graham
garth.graham at telus.net
Sat, 5 May 2012 12:22:00 -0700
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On 2012-05-05, at 12:19 AM, James Van Leeuwen wrote:
> Garth asks:
> What kind of a society do we want? =85 I think the very essence of =
the challenge we Canadians face today is that we have so many =
conflicting visions of what we want our society to look like. =85 What =
we lack is sufficient moral capital to bind the nation into a common and =
cohesive society with a meaningful purpose and a coherent vision for =
itself. =85 Without an appealing new moral vision and narrative to =
bind us together, collaboration and cooperation across groups will be =
next to impossible.
James, I congratulate you on risking discussion of values when, from my =
experience, the tolerance of Canadians for matters philosophical is =
pretty limited. The first and only time I dared wade into that debate =
about narrative was in June of 1994 (see attached report of a workshop =
on electronic democracy). The report predicts, accurately, that without =
ongoing discussion of values there would be no real basis for effective =
public policies about Canada's transformation into a digital society. =
What does a silence that's now 18 years deep say about the current =
content of public policy?
GG
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{\info
{\title Attached is a draft article expanding on the report of a June =
1994 Industry Canada funded workshop on electronic democracy}
{\author Garth =
Graham}}\margl1440\margr1440\vieww19940\viewh17260\viewkind1\viewscale150
\deftab720
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\f0\i\fs20 \cf0 Attached is a draft article expanding on the report of a =
June 1994 Industry Canada funded workshop on electronic democracy. The =
reports of several similar "information highway" issue-oriented =
workshops were subsequently published. This one was not. It could be =
that it was just a bad report. Discussion of it never got as far as =
circulation among the workshop participants, so there's been no feedback =
on whether or not it fairly summarized their experience. But, as chair =
of the workshop, I got the impression that any focus on social values =
and principles of equity in examination of information highway policy =
was an embarrassment to Industry Canada. So I offer this as merely an =
example of how some Canadians thought about values in an emergent and =
unfamiliar context.\
\
Reading this again, eleven years after I wrote it, I am struck by two =
things: how prescient we were in identifying a problem, and what little =
capacity there is, both then and now, to address that problem.\
\
Garth Graham\
November, 2007\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\f1\i0\fs24 \cf0 \
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0\qc
\cf0 ELECTRONIC DEMOCRACY, ELECTRONIC PUBLIC SPACE,\
AND THE MEANING OF UNIVERSAL ACCESS\
TO AN INFORMATION HIGHWAY\
\
GARTH GRAHAM\
January 24, 1996\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0\qc
\cf0 OUTLINE:\
\
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls1\ilvl0
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Electronic democracy and information highway policy\
\pard\pardeftab720\li360\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls2\ilvl0
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Defining an electronic commons\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls3\ilvl0
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Reframing issues around values \
\pard\tx1440\pardeftab720\li1440\fi-360\ri0
\ls3\ilvl1
\f3 \cf0 o=09
\f1 Universality \
\ls3\ilvl1
\f3 o=09
\f1 Diversity \
\ls3\ilvl1
\f3 o=09
\f1 Equity \
\ls3\ilvl1
\f3 o=09
\f1 Accessibility \
\ls3\ilvl1
\f3 o=09
\f1 Participation \
\ls3\ilvl1
\f3 o=09
\f1 Choice \
\ls3\ilvl1
\f3 o=09
\f1 Competence\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls4\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Good questions, no answers\
\pard\tx1440\pardeftab720\li1440\fi-360\ri0
\ls4\ilvl1
\f3 \cf0 o=09
\f1 Moving from technological imperatives to social needs\
\ls4\ilvl1
\f3 o=09
\f1 Freedom and responsibility\
\ls4\ilvl1
\f3 o=09
\f1 Social awareness of systems uses\
\pard\pardeftab720\li1080\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls5\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Action\
\pard\tx1440\pardeftab720\li1440\fi-360\ri0
\ls5\ilvl1
\f3 \cf0 o=09
\f1 Dialogue\
\ls5\ilvl1
\f3 o=09
\f1 Just do it!\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls6\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Defending electronic democracy\
\pard\pardeftab720\li360\ri0\qc
\cf0 ELECTRONIC DEMOCRACY AND INFORMATION HIGHWAY POLICY\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
In the Spring of 1994, the need for Canada to make national decisions =
about what has come to be called, for better or worse, "The Information =
Highway," evoked a series of quasi-public consultations that continue to =
this day. The centre-piece of these consultations was the establishment =
of an Information Highway Advisory Council to advise the Canadian =
Federal Government on a national strategy to govern the evolution of =
Canada's advanced information and communications infrastructure. What =
follows here is an unofficial and personal account of one of those =
consultations, a workshop on electronic democracy hosted by the =
Technology Impact Assessment Group, Industry Canada, in Ottawa on June =
7, 1994.\
\
Some of the issues identified by the workshop participants were, in =
part, incorporated into an IHAC discussion document, "Access, =
affordability and universal service on the Canadian information highway. =
Ottawa, January 1995." But, due to circumstances of no particular =
intent, the content and concerns of that debate on electronic democracy =
have never been fully voiced. Acting at the request of Industry Canada, =
I was the moderator of that workshop. Although I have used the verbatim =
transcript in preparing this account, it is not "minutes," and the =
interpretive framework I've used to describe the issues is entirely my =
own choosing. What follows here is, in essence, a "minority" report. \
\
The conclusion I drew from this workshop is that, although democracy and =
freedom are threatened by the transition to a knowledge society they'll =
probably thrive. But there's no guarantee. Understanding how =
democracy\
and freedom may be transformed by that transition is a necessary prelude =
to taking action in their defence.\
\
In June of 1994, because the question of the public interest in an =
information highway was new in Canada, forums to discuss it were rare. =
At the time, a workshop on electronic democracy represented a pioneering =
Canadian effort to identify central issues of public policy in the =
social sector. The 28 invited workshop participants had all made a =
transition to life as symbolic analysts in a knowledge society. =
Whatever that "paradigm shift" is, they were all conscious of being on =
the other side of it. All are social activists; involved in operating =
network-based social services, building connections across community =
networks, rural access questions, impact research, library network =
development,\
electronic publishing, and enlarging the public policy debate. They =
welcomed an opportunity to learn what others were doing, and to discuss =
social policy in the context of Canada's transformation into a knowledge =
society.\
\
Much of the debate surrounding the Information Highway then and now =
centers on economic development, information technology management, and =
the commercial delivery of electronic goods and services. Therefore =
discussion of social policy took the participants rapidly into new and =
unknown areas. In the preparations leading up to the workshop, it =
became apparent that debate on the social implications of transformation =
was actually proliferating at many more levels of Canadian society than =
we had thought. But most of these discussions were reactive and =
isolated within social institutions and communities facing change on =
their own. The workshop provided a concrete example of what can happen =
within public debate when, as it subsequently has, growing awareness =
about the consequences of social transformation shatters that isolation, =
and citizen groups begin to share their concerns.\
\
The phrase "electronic public space" appears in the Information Highway =
Advisory Council mandate document, "The Canadian information highway: =
building Canada's information and communications infrastructure," (page\
28). With that phrase, the Council was asked to consider the means of =
ensuring that the design of the information highway deliberately =
provides public space for information sharing, public debate and =
electronic democracy. This essential question seemed to suggest that =
the door was open for discussion of what electronic democracy is and =
what can be done about it.\
\
As social policy activists, the participants were aware of strong public =
feeling that the information highway should not be just a means of =
encouraging Canadians to consume more via home shopping. The workshop =
allowed them to reflect on the realities of electronic public space and =
the consequences of guaranteeing universal accessibility for all =
Canadians. But the apparent open door for debate on electronic =
democracy has not led to action. At this time of writing, It is =
possible to see that the following issues did not influence public =
policy.\
\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0\qc
\cf0 DEFINING AN ELECTRONIC COMMONS\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
One participant characterized the basic transformative issue as =
follows:\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\f4 \cf0 "The regulatory definition of access in a traditional Bell =
telephone communications sense has been, do you get a dial tone. There =
is a lot more to service than do you get access to the technology. =
If we enunciate the public space by constant emphasis on the content it =
encourages participation by diverse numbers of people in local =
communities. We need rich local networks, so that the women's shelter =
has a link to the food bank and a link to the church that operates as a =
drop in centre, and to the libraries and the schools. There is a =
commercial presence in it, but is not driven by that. That's the way we =
get a diverse public space."\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\f1 \cf0 \
Every Canadian faces issues having to do with redefining universal =
services for the 21st Century. As the technology becomes our =
"surround," every Canadian needs access to basic communications and =
information technology in order to participate effectively in a =
transformed Canadian society. Connecting anyone to anyone in =
interactive computer mediated communications systems has become a =
reality of daily existence. If we accept conceptual frameworks set by =
metaphors, including "information highway," without critical =
examination, we limit our ability to understand the implications of =
incredible and enormous transformations in the way in which we relate to =
each other.\
\
What is the definition of "public space" in an electronic environment? =
As yet, there is no conventional concept of electronic public space. =
The workshop participants discussed its boundaries in terms of a =
commons, the regulatory difficulties of managing a commons, and the need =
to define new dimensions of basic services within that understanding. =
The public nature of this "space" that we are imagining is not a niche =
carved away from something larger. In reality, this is an entire new =
zone of social and institutional relationships, the electronic =
dimensions of the world that we all participate in, not one segment of =
some larger world. \
\
In a knowledge society, the public expression of the self actually =
occurs more frequently in the electronic commons than anywhere else. It =
is, in effect, the major component of the zone of socialization in which =
the self gets defined. Rather than defend access to some ideal =
technological subsystem, public policy debate must address the wider =
social consequences of losing access to a commons that is essential for =
the self-definition and autonomy of everyone.\
\
\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0\qc
\cf0 REFRAMING ISSUES AROUND VALUES\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
The participants agreed that assessing the economic impact of technology =
in a social context is important. The social, political and economic =
impact of new communications media and information technology is turning =
our society inside out. Thinking about social transformation in terms =
of impact forces us to clarify our values and needs from new =
perspectives. If we do not reinterpret our values and needs in the =
context of the knowledge society, we leave the shaping of all decisions =
about the nature of that society to the market alone. For governments =
to allow this to occur would be an abandonment of political =
responsibility. But the trick is to be able to go from the abstract =
generality of principle to the concrete specifics of public policy =
decisions.\
\
Participants agreed on the centrality of values and principles. But =
they were not in complete agreement over how these get applied in a =
knowledge society. Their difficulties underline the need to deepen =
understanding of the issues and their implications. We all face social =
transformation. But without a broad-based understanding of its =
implications, we all lose the opportunity to know with some certainty =
who benefits and who pays. So far, there are only two visible national =
agendas in public policy debate: defining markets for the delivery of =
electronic goods and services, and information technology management. =
To the degree that they address citizenship, these agendas define it in =
terms of production and consumption. \
\
The possibility of serious confrontation exists if citizen participation =
in the knowledge society continues to be imagined merely in the roles of =
producer and consumer and if economic restructuring silences people at =
the margins of society. But Canadians haven't yet reached =
confrontation. Canadians still believe that dialogue can bridge the =
isolation that separates the interests of private, public and social =
sectors, and that, when it occurs, it will lead to some accommodation.\
\
Much of the workshop discussion centred on reframing public policy =
issues around values. All workshop participants accepted the necessity =
of balancing market forces and social forces. Not everyone agreed on =
the means to define basic services and then to address squarely the =
question of their price. \
\
Although they did not fully agree on how principles or values operate in =
public space in an electronic environment, they did agree that =
addressing issues of principle and value first is more vital than =
addressing issues of infrastructure or specific technologies. They did =
not quite agree that the opportunity in the information highway =
transformation is primarily social, not economic. But they did agree =
that, in order to maintain the principle of a nation of citizen =
democrats, social and cultural principles and values should define the =
ground rules for customary use of electronic public space, not just =
markets. The definition of electronic public space does encompass more =
than economics. Recognizing that social productivity in a knowledge =
society comes from the free flow of ideas, the participants saw know =
that Canada must find a balance of social forces and market forces that =
acknowledges access as a matter of social necessity. Here are some of =
the qualities, or rules of thumb, underlying design assumptions about =
our inhabitation of electronic public space. At the end of a discussion =
to achieve consensus on a basic list of principles for equity and social =
justice, the flip chart listed a wide range of reinterpreted principles =
included the following:\
\
\
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls7\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Universality:\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\cf0 There must be universal access to basic needs and services. In the =
context of the information highway, basic needs and services are =
obtained through constructed systems of communication and direct =
distribution of information that delayer the structure of intermediaries =
between senders and receivers of expression.\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls8\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Diversity:\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\cf0 The principle of diversity includes diversity of communication =
needs, of participation and creative expression, as well as diversity of =
the types and format of information as a product. It overlaps with =
principles of intellectual freedom and equity. It implies local control =
of cultural expression as a key to local autonomy. Ensuring the local =
informing of communities requires putting control of the switches for =
interactivity and connectivity at the user level. It requires effective =
community control of the means by which new communications media express =
community life.\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls9\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Equity:\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\cf0 Provision of the means of learning through interactive =
communications and the act of becoming informed enhances equity of =
opportunity. Applying the principle of equity takes us beyond =
universality and accessibility to fairness.\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls10\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Accessibility:\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\cf0 Universality is being interpreted as a problem of low or no cost =
access to basic technology. But the problem of attaining accessibility =
that contributes to universality must go far beyond that simplistic =
interpretation. This is why the values of diversity, participation and =
equity are so important.\
\
Universality can only be achieved if we have accessibility at the level =
of the social systems within which the technology systems are applied. =
We must talk about switching capability at the user level, at the school =
level, at the level of the Boy Scouts or the hockey rink. That requires =
meaningful accessibility across all system levels so that everyone can =
judge the effectiveness of social connectivity with critical =
perspective. Anybody who might be marginalized by a particular =
circumstance of life has to be the standard for judging accessibility. =
How easily can I move around the whole system? How accessible is needed =
information, the means of communication, the dialogue in community, =
access to audiences? What do the systems provide in terms of free flows =
and access to the means of distribution?\
\
We need to define special roles for libraries and community networks in =
access. Easy to reach, easy to use, user friendly, there should be a =
principle of quick access or access to technical aids to ease access, of =
smart front ends, not just into the technology, but into the social =
systems as well. A future where active community networks and =
electronically accessible branch libraries help define the place that we =
call home is a future of locally controlled distributed systems. If we =
get distributed electronic public spaces that are more difficult to =
access than shopping malls, we will just go to the shopping malls and =
never know the difference.\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls11\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Participation:\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\cf0 It's a participatory proactive medium. We must go beyond access as =
a principle to engagement and democracy, to saying what you want and =
taking part in the decisions affecting you. \
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls12\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Choice:\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\cf0 "Choice" means who has the power to define who we are, not the =
multiple choice options of the "buy icon." Choice is used in relation =
to telephone services and to the Broadcast Act in terms of the range of =
services or menu of services that we can pick from. Multiple "choice" =
from a menu is a market driven version of the word. The public interest =
version of the word is a matter of self-definition.\
\
People need to be able to choose what they want to do, what they want to =
see, how they want to talk to people, who they want to talk to, what =
information they want. In order to tap grassroots power and attitudes, =
communities need to decide their own destiny and local autonomy. In the =
context of a national information and communications infrastructure, =
applying the principle of choice in design means opting for open systems =
over closed systems.\
\
Choice implies something personal. I either choose to be in the system =
or out of the system. Open systems evolve and are self-organizing. We =
don't restrict individual choice because everything is open and we need =
to let it evolve. We know whatever it is we think we need to know in =
order to reach a decision. I can tell my story. My individual choices =
in defining my own identity are what is really inherent in relating to =
my culture. In effect, a principle of choice as self-definition shifts =
emphasis to the demand side of the users / producers balance. Via open =
systems, we can avoid any concentration of power that circumscribes =
individual choice of the means of communication, sources of information, =
or the routes to and range of electronic goods and services.\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls13\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Competence:\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\cf0 A new medium of communications is, de facto, a new medium of =
learning. In fact, it creates a new process of basic socialization as =
much as it creates a new climate in which to learn. We all must have =
the basic social skills to play the game that is now being played, but =
we don't yet know the name of the game. We need to redefine literacy =
for an information age to include transformation awareness, training, =
continuous learning, computer literacy, and information processing =
skills. "Awareness" requires understanding the tools and modes of =
social transformation well enough to apply that knowledge.\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0\qc
\cf0 GOOD QUESTIONS, NO ANSWERS\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
What should public interest groups do next to address the issue of =
electronic public space?\
\
The electronic democracy workshop was a first-time gathering of =
like-minded groups. The agenda was ambitious and there were great =
expectations about action. But the workshop did not result in =
coherently organizing a community of advocates that could communicate =
electronic democracy issues directly to the Information Highway Advisory =
Council. And, given the diversity of Canada and the speed of social =
transformation, it's not surprising that a group of Canadians did not =
totally agree on a list of social values.\
\
There were three topics of intense discussion where the participants =
didn't find common agreement. These three grey zones usefully point =
toward areas requiring new thinking. First, there was a range of =
beliefs about the centrality of technology in change and the role of =
markets. Secondly, although the participants recognized an essential =
link between freedom of access and free speech, they failed to agree on =
the question of qualifying freedom of expression through responsibility. =
Third, while they agreed that the phrase "computer literacy" is no =
longer adequate to describe a need for social awareness of how to use =
systems, they didn't have a phrase to replace it.\
\
Moving from technological imperatives to social needs\
\
Does technology rule, or is it people that decide? If it's people that =
decide, the discussion must move from basic technology to basic values. =
There was no consensus on this question. The continuum of opinion =
centres on beliefs about markets. Some participants believe that =
markets alone will drive the public policy agenda. Some believe that it =
will be driven by markets only if we *don't* express our needs and =
values. One participant noted:\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\f4 \cf0 \'93I'm less interested in the technology than in the process. =
I see government establishing an infrastructure and then you set up the =
process. We talked of reframing and transformation. I do see a very =
different process which is going to be the transformative influence. =
That process is facilitation versus control. It's collaboration versus =
competition. It is going to be consensus decision making as opposed to =
majority rule, diversity of content as opposed to prescription. It will =
be people driven as opposed to supplier driven. This is not a new =
process. This is very much a feminist process. It is the collaboration =
model. It is the non-violent model and it is a global model. It =
is a model that will take care of a whole lot of all of the issues, =
because in it the people will tell us. All of a sudden, the whole =
problem of buy-in is overcome, because people are running it. That will =
create the transformation."\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\f1 \cf0 \
But another participant countered:\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\f4 \cf0 "Democratic principles aren't going to drive anything. The =
technology drives everything. That has been a fact of life going back =
to the beginning of recorded history. The democratic principles can be =
one way of expressing our reaction to technology and changes in the =
economy, but it will not be driven if we say this is the way for =
openness and that this is going to drive it. What is going to drive it =
is Mosaic coming out."\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\f1 \cf0 \
Freedom and responsibility\
\
Because the issue of freedom and responsibility embodies the issue of =
"netiquette," (defining acceptable standards of public behaviour in the =
electronic commons), the workshop participants found this to be the most =
painful of all topics. Freedom implies choice, the freedom to commit to =
an action and accept responsibility for the results of that commitment. =
Expression is action and actions have consequences. In the act of =
communication as social relationship, if every sender of a message fully =
accepted responsibility for the consequences of their expression, and =
every party in the sender / receiver relationship interpreted =
consequences in the same way, we would have no need to formalize the =
imposition of social conventions into rules of law. We also wouldn't =
learn very much about ourselves that we didn't already know.\
\
The ideal is the maximum amount of free expression with the minimum of =
socially imposed regulation within a context that accepts the potential =
for darkness to intervene in human behaviour. Identity, the self, is as =
much defined in relation to others as it is self-defined. In electronic =
public space we all face a new "space" of social relationship. The =
question of who controls the send / receive switches inherent in =
interactive communications systems becomes of enormous importance when =
we realize the degree to which those systems present new challenges to =
our personal sense of control of the central fact of our existence.\
\
Who am I? Who gets to tell my story? As electronic public space =
becomes more of the totality of our social surround, the opportunities =
to turn off the switch become less realistic. The act of turning off =
the switch becomes an absolute disconnection from the social system. In =
effect, in order to ensure public trust, progress in technology must be =
accompanied by progress in morality. But where should critical judgment =
reside? As one participant said, "When it's in my nose, you've gone too =
far." The golden mean of "do unto others" would seem to apply.\
\
There is a dimension of moral responsibility to the free expression of =
personal identity. It would be irresponsible of me if my loudness =
obscured your silence. It would be irresponsible of you if your silence =
allowed my obscuring to go unremarked. Freedom is not license. It =
involves choice (commitment) and responsibility for the choice. That =
moral imperative is not imposed. It resides within. Freedom of =
expression, of speech, of mind? Intellectual Freedom? Freedom to =
responsibly express versus freedom to offend? The right to communicate, =
interactive communication? Freedom to choose, to create, to read? The =
participants tried on a number of expressions for size and none of\
them fit:\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\f4 \cf0 "I am feeling disturbed about the whole question about feeling =
welcome. I am wondering if this really is an intellectual freedom =
question, or whether it is actually another principle. I feel that we =
have to envelope this whole area of responsibility within our =
principles, but I am not sure what the word is."\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\f1 \cf0 \
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 One group in the room wanted to qualify freedom by the word =
responsibility or to find another word for responsibility. Another =
group strongly felt that the concept of freedom of expression is not in =
any way qualifiable. A third group defended the right to communicate. =
When a workshop of social advocates cannot resolve a discussion of =
freedom and responsibility as values in the context of a knowledge =
society, we should be forewarned.\
\
Social awareness of systems uses\
\
As one participant stated the problem:\
\pard\pardeftab720\li720\ri0
\f4 \cf0 \
"There are a lot of people out there that really don't give a damn for =
what we are talking about and don't even know about it. There is a =
real awareness issue. We have a transformation process happening. If =
you look at the fishing villages in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, =
there's massive money being put into retraining these people. But =
they're simply asking the questions; why? \'85 what is this all about? =
\'85what does this mean to me? I'd use the phrase "information =
literacy," but nobody I talk to ever understands what that phrase means. =
Of what use is the power of information and new means of communicating =
for the communities without the sidewalks, the small fishing villages, =
the ones that really I think have the greatest need for awareness of =
what we are talking about. The issue for these communities is not the =
content, it is not the infrastructure. It's understanding the social =
change or the transformation well enough to use that knowledge."\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\f1 \cf0 \
People are experiencing change in social relationship via networks of =
computers. Literacy is the basic skill in using print communications =
systems. Computer literacy describes skill in using computers by =
reference to print systems, which makes it one step removed. By the =
time we get to connecting people via computers in networks, the =
reference to literacy is two steps removed from describing the skills =
that are necessary to function in daily living.\
\
In existing telephone systems, for example, it is fine to say that, in =
the social welfare net, you can reach the government service that will =
give you what you need by phone. If you don't understand the =
bureaucracy that is behind the phone, then the phone access means =
nothing. There is something missing in that equation that would allow =
you to use the system. You have to understand the concept of =
government. You have to understand who produces information in society =
in order to be able to use it well. In acknowledging the problem of =
learning to use networks as social systems, the participants encountered =
another problem for which there's no word.\
\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0\qc
\cf0 ACTION\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
The workshop ended with an ideas generation session about the next steps =
that could be taken to raise the issues of values and awareness of =
social transformation in the public policy debate. In general, the =
strategies identified for action in defence of electronic public space =
fell under two broad headings, dialogue and "just do it!:" =
\
\
Dialogue\
\
There needs to be a strategy of increasing dialogue about the role of =
electronic public space in public policy, leading to intensified =
collaborative partnerships and broadened public understanding and =
participation. There is an intense public sector dimension to the =
social functions of community development, education, security, health, =
economic development, broadcasting, and social services.\
\
To decide, as we seem to be, that computer mediated communications is =
purely a matter of markets, and therefore best left to the private =
sector, should be seen as a radical departure from existing public =
policy. In order to ensure public understanding of universal access as =
a right of citizenship, we need to mobilize the awareness process. We =
need to move beyond where we are now in our assumptions about impacts, =
ratchet up the learning, and intensify any dialogue that moves toward =
common understanding. We need to support any public efforts to =
anticipate societal effects and to have clear-eyed visions of future =
possibilities.\
\
Something like an Internet email address and homepage is in everyone's =
future, but not everyone realizes this. The problem of broadening =
participation in public policy debate is not just a matter of providing =
opportunities to talk. There is a need to translate the experience of =
knowledge society transitions into terms those facing the phase change, =
but not yet into it, can actually see and hear. We need to imagine =
models, analogies and metaphors that extend beyond people's common =
experience into new thinking - practical language that lets them =
interpret the same set of facts from different perspectives.\
\
The participants diverged over the audience for that translation. Some =
saw a need to inform champions and political leadership. Others saw a =
need to inform at the community level, so that people can and will get =
in on the design and implementation of community based systems. =
Opposing assumptions about power, and cause and effect in social action, =
underlie the differences in these views.\
\
But the transition to a knowledge society involves significance learning =
and adaptation at all levels of society. In fact, the "delayering" of =
inherent structures of leaders and followers is one characteristic of =
the transformation that everyone accepted. Any action plan to broaden =
the debate on social policy in the context of Canada's transformation =
into a knowledge society must take both existing and transforming social =
"levels" into account.\
\
Just do it!\
\
There needs to be a national strategy of encouraging concrete action in =
local control of community based networks and services. This would =
simplify the relation of clients and service providers so that results =
and the needs for service drive the systems development even faster. We =
can use a conscious enveloping strategy of proliferating modems, =
connections and computers to permit massive new learning and skills =
development. We can get things wired, hook people up, connect the =
unconnected. We can do it, without really talking about it.\
\
In fact, SchoolNet and community networks demonstrate just how easily =
anyone can apply the tools of complex communications systems in the =
development of community based services. But this strategy requires =
open systems to succeed. A mandate for open systems is a mandate for =
disequilibrium. It confronts existing closed control systems. We have =
to believe, as do the millions of users of the Internet, that the =
consequences of transformation are better than the maintenance of the =
status quo.\
\
\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0\qc
\cf0 DEFENDING ELECTRONIC DEMOCRACY\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
In a knowledge society, the exercise of citizenship and democracy =
require access to electronic public space as a commons. Governments =
have a responsibility to guarantee that access. Citizens have a right =
and a need to defend it. The keys to defence include ensuring that: =
\
\
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls14\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 The development of rich locally controlled networks encourages =
diversity of content and participation.\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls15\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Every Canadian knows how to navigate within the electronic commons =
in order to connect with and relate to other people at will. \
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls16\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 Principles drive the Information Highway process, not just =
technology; and that social and cultural values define the ground =
rules for customary use of an electronic commons, not just markets.\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls17\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 The public understands universal access as a right and =
responsibility of citizenship, by mobilizing a national dialogue that =
discusses social policy in the context of Canada's transformation to a =
knowledge society. \
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
\pard\tx720\pardeftab720\li720\fi-360\ri0
\ls18\ilvl1
\f2 \cf0 \'a5=09
\f1 The application of communications tools to enhance the quality of =
life at the community level uses an "open systems" approach.\
\pard\pardeftab720\ri0
\cf0 \
A year has passed since the Electronic Democracy Workshop was held. =
That year has seen a surge of informal email-linked action by public =
interest groups in experimenting with the two strategies of dialogue and =
"just do it!" Every one of the organizations involved has publicly =
stated the need to establish public space in an electronic commons as =
the central issue in the design of a national information and =
communications infrastructure.\
\
I would like to be able to report that official channels of public =
policy debate, centered around the Information Highway Advisory Council, =
has responded positively to that expression. But, as of this date, =
there is no sign that the centre of public policy debate has moved one =
centimeter from its focus on information technology management and the =
distribution of electronic goods and services.\
\
Electronic democracy is the extension of basic principles and values =
into the electronic environment of a knowledge society. As individuals =
increasingly use digital communications networks, services and tools in =
their routine social, political and economic activities, the principles =
of universality, diversity, equity, accessibility, participation, and =
choice must be re-interpreted and applied in that transformation. In a =
knowledge society, both the think-spaces that are the location of =
relational transactions and the cyberspaces that are the location of the =
electronic commons are cerebral. It is, therefore, difficult to =
imagine the threat to freedom represented by uncritical acceptance of =
the information highway without reference to social purpose. But, for =
Canada, the question of how democracy and freedom are transformed and =
defended in our transition to a knowledge society remains to be =
addressed.\
}=
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