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An internet-based electronic forum as a Habermasian form of societal discourse

Author

Listed:
  • Heng, Michael S.H.

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculteit der Economische Wetenschappen en Econometrie (Free University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics Sciences, Business Administration and Economitrics)

  • Moor, Aldo de

Abstract

Communication plays a crucial role in influencing various aspects of our social life. However, communication has more often than not been distorted by unequal opportunities to initiate and sustain it. Such a condition has been criticized by Habermas who argues for an ideal speech situation. It refers to a situation of democratic communication with equal opportunities for social actors to communicate undistorted manner. This ideal situation is partially being realized by Internet. The paper provides a case story of how an Internet-based too 1 can be used, for example by environment group, as a new avenue to create a more equal exchange of ideas among social actors. The Internet- based electronic forum, known by its acronym GRASS (Group Report Authoring Support System), is a generic software tool supporting the production of concise group reports that give their readers an up to date and credible overview of the positions of various stakeholders on a particular issue. Together with people and procedures it is a comprehensive socio-technical system which can play a role in resolving societal conflicts. With the widespread use of the Internet, such an Internet-based forum has the potential to become an emergent form of communication for widely dispersed social

Suggested Citation

  • Heng, Michael S.H. & Moor, Aldo de, 2000. "An internet-based electronic forum as a Habermasian form of societal discourse," Serie Research Memoranda 0014, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.
    • Handle: RePEc:vua:wpaper:2000-14
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lyytinen, Kalle & Hirschheim, Rudy, 1988. "Information systems as rational discourse: an application of Habermas's theory of communicative action," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 4(1-2), pages 19-30.
    2. de Moor, A. & Weigand, H., 1996. "The role of social constraints in the design of research network information systems," Other publications TiSEM d43024b6-e57d-4ff4-a618-b, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    communication; generic software tool; Habermas; the Internet; transparency; legitimization; accountability; democratic forum; speech acts.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications

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