The digital agora: analysis of the relation between democratic deliberation and new digital media

Abstract

This article proposes a theoretic approach to the current relation between the impact of the social product of new communication technologies (new digital media) and the optimization conditions of deliberation in democracy, aiming to map the anatomy of this relation as well as its main points of conflict in respect to transparency and participation. It shows new digital media present traits both suggesting potential for positive and negative impacts, nevertheless there are certain differential factors that incline to opt for a conclusion that estimates the effect of this relation as distinctly negative. It concludes with a series of recommendations as to how to tackle the challenges derived from this analysis, pointing to the need of reconsidering certain notions of deliberation and the public sphere.