Digital democracy during COVID-19 pandemic: use of information and communications technology between creativity and inability to promote the practice of democratic values. Case study of Jordan
Abstract
This study aims to examine the extent to which information and communications technology was used as a tool for political socialization and promotion of democratic values, and the purpose and extent of Jordanian university students’ use of information and communications technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study adopted a cross-sectional design. A total of 1171 students were selected from science and humanities faculties at three universities to participate in the study. Questionnaires were sent to some of the university students to distribute to other students through their electronic learning platforms. The findings of the study revealed that, although most participants used information and communications technology to “high” and “very high” extents, they did not use it to promote democratic values, as the purpose was mainly for education, entertainment, and other services.
Keyword : COVID-19 pandemic, democracy, digital democracy, information and communications technology
How to Cite
Alquraan, S. N., & Adouse, H. (2024). Digital democracy during COVID-19 pandemic: use of information and communications technology between creativity and inability to promote the practice of democratic values. Case study of Jordan. Creativity Studies, 17(1), 131–151. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2024.15806
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Al-Asraj, H. A. (2021). Information and communications technology as a mechanism to promote democracy and freedom of expression. https://manshurat.org/node/20691
Al-Hourani, M. (2012). The tribe is a social capital: A sociological study of the tribal loyalty components and its transformations in the Jordanian society. Jordanian Journal for Social Sciences, 5(2), 172–201.
Alghamdi, N. S., & Alghamdi, S. M. (2022). The role of digital technology in curbing COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148287
Asian Barometer. (2022). Survey timetable. https://www.asianbarometer.org/survey.jsp?page=s10
Bastien, F., Koop, R., Small, T. A., Giasson, Th., & Jansen, H. (2020). The role of online technologies and digital skills in the political participation of citizens with disabilities. Journal of Information Technology and Politics, 17(3), 218–231. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2020.1742264
Bitkom. (2020). In 10 Schritten zum digitalen Staat. https://www.bitkom.org/sites/default/files/2020-09/200921_pp_in-10-schritten-zum-digitalen-staat.pdf
Carothers, Th. (2015). Why technology hasn’t delivered more democracy. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/06/03/why-technology-hasnt-delivered-more-democracy-democratic-transition/
Deva, Y. (1997). Internet: A paradigm shift in technological determinism. IETE Technical Review, 14(4–5), 317–323. https://doi.org/10.1080/02564602.1997.11416689
Dijk, van J. A. G. M. (2005). The deepening divide: Inequality in the Information society. Sage.
El-Dahshan, G. A. (2018). The role of ICT in supporting the democratic movement: Digital democracy as a model. International Journal of Research in Educational Sciences, 1(2), 127–188.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (1992). Defense Law No. 13 of 1992 of Jordan. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/jor197512.pdf
Hacker, K. L., & Dijk, van J. (Eds). (2001). Digital democracy: Issues of theory and practice. SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446218891
Gbue, D. (2014). An assessment of the role of social media in political education and mobilization [Master’s Thesis, Benue State University]. Nigeria [unpublished source].
Gil de Zúñiga, H., Veenstra, A., Vraga, E., & Shah, D. (2010). Digital democracy: Reimagining pathways to political participation. Journal of Information Technology and Politics, 7(1), 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331680903316742
Greenpeace. (2020). Demokratische Teilhabe der Zivilgesellschaft in der Corona-Pandemie: Monitoring “Coronavirus und Civic Space in Deutschland”. https://www.greenpeace.de/publikationen/s02911_gp_corona-pandemie_demokratische_teilhabe_studie_06_20.pdf
Human Rights Documentary Organization Center for Digital Expression Support. (2017). Digital democracy, technology and the phenomenon of politics digitization. Human Rights Documentary Organization Center
International Telecommunication Union. (2002). ICTs in support of human rights, democracy and good governance. https://www.itu.int/osg/spuold/visions/developed/HRICT.pdf
Kalsnes, B. (2016). The social media paradox explained: Comparing political parties’ Facebook strategy versus practice. Social Media + Society, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305116644616
Kofi Annan Foundation. (2018). How IT threatens democracy. https://www.kofiannanfoundation.org/supporting-democracy-and-elections-with-integrity/it-democracy/
Kretschmer, H. (2020). Partizipation als Teil der Digitalisierungsstrategie. Berlin Institut für Partizipation. https://www.bipar.de/partizipation-als-teil-der-digitalisierungsstrategie/
Kuklinski, J. H., Quirk, P. J., Jerit, J., Schwieder, D., & Rich, R. F. (2000). Misinformation and the currency of democratic citizenship. The Journal of Politics, 62(3), 790–816. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-3816.00033
Lamah, F. M. (2014). Digital democracy: Opportunities and challenges [unpublished source].
Lee, Sh. H. (2017). Digital democracy in Asia: The impact of the Asian internet on political participation. Journal of Information Technology and Politics, 14(1), 62–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2016.1214095
Min, S.-J. (2010). From the digital divide to the democratic divide: Internet skills, political interest, and the second-level digital divide in political internet use. Journal of Information Technology and Politics, 7(1), 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331680903109402
Moghzili, N. (2017). The role of information and communication technology in establishing a new practice of democracy: Electronic democracy. Journal of Political Science and Law, 3, 154–167.
Petersen, G. (2020). Democracy, authoritarianism, and COVID-19 pandemic management: The case of SARS-CoV-2 testing (Working Paper). https://doi.org/10.33774/apsa-2020-wbhfk-v2
Pye, L. W., & Verba, S. (Eds.). (1969). Studies in Political Development: Vol. 5. Political culture and political development. Princeton University Press.
Riaz, S. (2010). Effects of new media technologies on political communication. Journal of Political Studies, 1, 161–173.
Roleff, D. (2012). Digitale Politik und Partizipation: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen. Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. https://www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschriften/apuz/75834/digitale-politik-und-partizipation-moeglichkeiten-und-grenzen/
Rosenau, J. N., & Johnson, D. (2002). Information technologies and turbulence in world politics. In J. E. Allison (Ed.), Technology, development, and democracy: International conflict and cooperation in the information age (pp. 55–78). State University of New York Press.
Schmidt, J.-H. (2012). Das demokratische Netz? Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung Support. https://www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschriften/apuz/75830/das-demokratische-netz/
Sgueo, G. (2020). Digital democracy: Is the future of civic engagement online? European Parliamentary Research Service. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2020/646161/EPRS_BRI(2020)646161_EN.pdf
Solonian Democracy Institute. (2020). Digital democracy and COVID-19. https://c17d130b-decc-4466-8955-20c2748a6b10.usrfiles.com/ugd/c17d13_acb878d13563446a96bfc62ac8418782.pdf
Warschauer, M. (2003). Technology and social inclusion: Rethinking the digital divide. MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/6699.001.0001
Wirtz, B. W., Lütje, S., & Schierz, P. G. (2008). Series: Speyerer Forschungsberichte. Vol.: 257. Electronic Procurement in der öffentlichen Verwal¬tung: eine Analyse der Barrieren und Widerstände. Dt. Forschungsinst. für Öffentliche Verwaltung.
Witting, V. (2020). Corona als Chance für Online-Demokratie. DW. https://www.dw.com/de/politik-in-corona-zeiten-chance-f%C3%BCr-die-online-demokratie/a-53436150
Yazza, bin Y., & Soghairy, W. (2019). The contribution of the digital environment to supporting participatory democracy, remote participation tools as a model. Journal of Social and Human Sciences, 20(1), 257–274.
Yen, W.-T. (2020). Taiwan’s COVID‐19 management: Developmental state, digital governance, and state‐society synergy. Asian Politics and Policy, 12(3), 455–468. https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.12541
Youngs, R., & Panchulidze, E. (2020). Global democracy and COVID-19: Upgrading international support. https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/global-democracy-and-covid-19.pdf
Al-Hourani, M. (2012). The tribe is a social capital: A sociological study of the tribal loyalty components and its transformations in the Jordanian society. Jordanian Journal for Social Sciences, 5(2), 172–201.
Alghamdi, N. S., & Alghamdi, S. M. (2022). The role of digital technology in curbing COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148287
Asian Barometer. (2022). Survey timetable. https://www.asianbarometer.org/survey.jsp?page=s10
Bastien, F., Koop, R., Small, T. A., Giasson, Th., & Jansen, H. (2020). The role of online technologies and digital skills in the political participation of citizens with disabilities. Journal of Information Technology and Politics, 17(3), 218–231. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2020.1742264
Bitkom. (2020). In 10 Schritten zum digitalen Staat. https://www.bitkom.org/sites/default/files/2020-09/200921_pp_in-10-schritten-zum-digitalen-staat.pdf
Carothers, Th. (2015). Why technology hasn’t delivered more democracy. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/06/03/why-technology-hasnt-delivered-more-democracy-democratic-transition/
Deva, Y. (1997). Internet: A paradigm shift in technological determinism. IETE Technical Review, 14(4–5), 317–323. https://doi.org/10.1080/02564602.1997.11416689
Dijk, van J. A. G. M. (2005). The deepening divide: Inequality in the Information society. Sage.
El-Dahshan, G. A. (2018). The role of ICT in supporting the democratic movement: Digital democracy as a model. International Journal of Research in Educational Sciences, 1(2), 127–188.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (1992). Defense Law No. 13 of 1992 of Jordan. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/jor197512.pdf
Hacker, K. L., & Dijk, van J. (Eds). (2001). Digital democracy: Issues of theory and practice. SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446218891
Gbue, D. (2014). An assessment of the role of social media in political education and mobilization [Master’s Thesis, Benue State University]. Nigeria [unpublished source].
Gil de Zúñiga, H., Veenstra, A., Vraga, E., & Shah, D. (2010). Digital democracy: Reimagining pathways to political participation. Journal of Information Technology and Politics, 7(1), 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331680903316742
Greenpeace. (2020). Demokratische Teilhabe der Zivilgesellschaft in der Corona-Pandemie: Monitoring “Coronavirus und Civic Space in Deutschland”. https://www.greenpeace.de/publikationen/s02911_gp_corona-pandemie_demokratische_teilhabe_studie_06_20.pdf
Human Rights Documentary Organization Center for Digital Expression Support. (2017). Digital democracy, technology and the phenomenon of politics digitization. Human Rights Documentary Organization Center
International Telecommunication Union. (2002). ICTs in support of human rights, democracy and good governance. https://www.itu.int/osg/spuold/visions/developed/HRICT.pdf
Kalsnes, B. (2016). The social media paradox explained: Comparing political parties’ Facebook strategy versus practice. Social Media + Society, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305116644616
Kofi Annan Foundation. (2018). How IT threatens democracy. https://www.kofiannanfoundation.org/supporting-democracy-and-elections-with-integrity/it-democracy/
Kretschmer, H. (2020). Partizipation als Teil der Digitalisierungsstrategie. Berlin Institut für Partizipation. https://www.bipar.de/partizipation-als-teil-der-digitalisierungsstrategie/
Kuklinski, J. H., Quirk, P. J., Jerit, J., Schwieder, D., & Rich, R. F. (2000). Misinformation and the currency of democratic citizenship. The Journal of Politics, 62(3), 790–816. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-3816.00033
Lamah, F. M. (2014). Digital democracy: Opportunities and challenges [unpublished source].
Lee, Sh. H. (2017). Digital democracy in Asia: The impact of the Asian internet on political participation. Journal of Information Technology and Politics, 14(1), 62–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2016.1214095
Min, S.-J. (2010). From the digital divide to the democratic divide: Internet skills, political interest, and the second-level digital divide in political internet use. Journal of Information Technology and Politics, 7(1), 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331680903109402
Moghzili, N. (2017). The role of information and communication technology in establishing a new practice of democracy: Electronic democracy. Journal of Political Science and Law, 3, 154–167.
Petersen, G. (2020). Democracy, authoritarianism, and COVID-19 pandemic management: The case of SARS-CoV-2 testing (Working Paper). https://doi.org/10.33774/apsa-2020-wbhfk-v2
Pye, L. W., & Verba, S. (Eds.). (1969). Studies in Political Development: Vol. 5. Political culture and political development. Princeton University Press.
Riaz, S. (2010). Effects of new media technologies on political communication. Journal of Political Studies, 1, 161–173.
Roleff, D. (2012). Digitale Politik und Partizipation: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen. Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. https://www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschriften/apuz/75834/digitale-politik-und-partizipation-moeglichkeiten-und-grenzen/
Rosenau, J. N., & Johnson, D. (2002). Information technologies and turbulence in world politics. In J. E. Allison (Ed.), Technology, development, and democracy: International conflict and cooperation in the information age (pp. 55–78). State University of New York Press.
Schmidt, J.-H. (2012). Das demokratische Netz? Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung Support. https://www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschriften/apuz/75830/das-demokratische-netz/
Sgueo, G. (2020). Digital democracy: Is the future of civic engagement online? European Parliamentary Research Service. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2020/646161/EPRS_BRI(2020)646161_EN.pdf
Solonian Democracy Institute. (2020). Digital democracy and COVID-19. https://c17d130b-decc-4466-8955-20c2748a6b10.usrfiles.com/ugd/c17d13_acb878d13563446a96bfc62ac8418782.pdf
Warschauer, M. (2003). Technology and social inclusion: Rethinking the digital divide. MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/6699.001.0001
Wirtz, B. W., Lütje, S., & Schierz, P. G. (2008). Series: Speyerer Forschungsberichte. Vol.: 257. Electronic Procurement in der öffentlichen Verwal¬tung: eine Analyse der Barrieren und Widerstände. Dt. Forschungsinst. für Öffentliche Verwaltung.
Witting, V. (2020). Corona als Chance für Online-Demokratie. DW. https://www.dw.com/de/politik-in-corona-zeiten-chance-f%C3%BCr-die-online-demokratie/a-53436150
Yazza, bin Y., & Soghairy, W. (2019). The contribution of the digital environment to supporting participatory democracy, remote participation tools as a model. Journal of Social and Human Sciences, 20(1), 257–274.
Yen, W.-T. (2020). Taiwan’s COVID‐19 management: Developmental state, digital governance, and state‐society synergy. Asian Politics and Policy, 12(3), 455–468. https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.12541
Youngs, R., & Panchulidze, E. (2020). Global democracy and COVID-19: Upgrading international support. https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/global-democracy-and-covid-19.pdf