Matching Items (25)
Filtering by

Clear all filters

135289-Thumbnail Image.png

Click to Connect: The Internet's Influence on the Employment of Civic Republicanism through Online Political Engagement

Description
There exists a strong correlation between successful democratic governance and citizen participation. Pulling this sense of civic engagement to the furthest end of the spectrum, author and political theorist Benjamin Barber expresses the benefits of citizen independence and self-governance though political deliberation in a variety of texts, one of which…

There exists a strong correlation between successful democratic governance and citizen participation. Pulling this sense of civic engagement to the furthest end of the spectrum, author and political theorist Benjamin Barber expresses the benefits of citizen independence and self-governance though political deliberation in a variety of texts, one of which being Strong Democracy. While the United States currently operates on a "democratic" base, the overall lack of political efficacy undermines democratic effectiveness. Benjamin Barber outlines a series of solutions and employment strategies in order to increase efficacy and bolster civic engagement and bring about a culture of self-legislation, but in his analysis seems to overlook the collaborative capacity of the Internet, more specifically social media outlets and blogs. This study will examine the use of the Internet in various political manners, to observe if the presence of platforms such as social networks and blogs are facilitating or hindering the push towards a more civic-republican political structure. While research has displayed that the numbers on political internet-usage are consistently increasing, it is evident that not all forms of online-engagement are beneficial towards Barber's Civic Republican ideals, and may serve to strengthen the current unsound system. Through this study, I argue that certain methods of political activity over the Internet may work to support the collaborative democratic culture, and increase a sense of Civic Republicanism through political creativity, deliberation and online-action. If we are to one day achieve the goal of recovering a true sense of cooperative democracy, these forms of participation may play a significant role in the struggle for change, and must be facilitated through both civic education and the cooperation of elites. If this Internet-mediated political deliberation continues to develop, I believe that it has the capacity to act as a significant catalyst towards Barber's Civic Republican ideals and an overall shift in the political culture.
ContributorsSalute, Nicholas John (Author) / Kirkpatrick, Jennet (Thesis director) / Halavais, Alex (Committee member) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05

Navigating the Next Frontier of Journalism: A Project to Restore Regional Voices and Community-Based Storytelling

Description

There is a serious lack of local news in Arizona, the American Southwest, and the United States at-large. Arizonans are craving quality, factual, no-holds-barred journalism that is easy-to-read, and upfront. Quality, local news that covers the ins and outs of politics, culture, and community has an opportunity to not only…

There is a serious lack of local news in Arizona, the American Southwest, and the United States at-large. Arizonans are craving quality, factual, no-holds-barred journalism that is easy-to-read, and upfront. Quality, local news that covers the ins and outs of politics, culture, and community has an opportunity to not only enhance civic life, promote community healing, and expand knowledge made available to the general public (thus serving the communities it calls home), but to also generate revenue. Further, independent and center-right leaning voters in the state of Arizona — be reminded that independents make up the second largest voting bloc among Arizonans — are often crowded out in a media environment that consists of far-left nonprofit-funded news sites like the Arizona Mirror, formerly reputable papers that have bled readership as they veer further left like the Arizona Republic, and far-right online blogs that reach a very limited audience. The Western Tribune is an Arizona-based journalistic publication. This institution is dedicated to providing high-quality, well-sourced news and commentary on statewide, regional, national, and international current affairs through the lens of good government and free enterprise — as well as Southwestern values. We are a free institution that believes in free institutions. We cover stories that go uncovered because of the corporate media’s blind spots (and they’ve got many — they’re a result of news deserts and out-of-touch coastal attitudes) with the stable support of a robust institution dedicated to Truth-seeking behind them. Our storytellers are not just good writers. We seek to recruit and form critical thinkers with skills that span trades, disciplines, and educational backgrounds. We are building an institution committed to excellence.
ContributorsRobinson, Clay (Author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Swader, Melissa (Committee member) / Plunkett, Nina (Committee member) / Khalaf, George (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / School for the Future of Innovation in Society (Contributor) / School of Public Affairs (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / School of Civic & Economic Thought and Leadership (Contributor)
Created2023-05
155197-Thumbnail Image.png

Case study: the closing of the Arizona interfaith alliance for worker justice and implications on barriers to civic engagement in its wake

Description
The Arizona Interfaith Alliance for Worker Justice (AIAWJ) was a mediating structure for those who wanted to be civically engaged in the labor movement and other coalitions in Phoenix, Arizona. It not only served its constituents, but it integrated, educated, and empowered them. Due to lack of funding the AIAWJ…

The Arizona Interfaith Alliance for Worker Justice (AIAWJ) was a mediating structure for those who wanted to be civically engaged in the labor movement and other coalitions in Phoenix, Arizona. It not only served its constituents, but it integrated, educated, and empowered them. Due to lack of funding the AIAWJ closed in the summer of 2016. Many community members from marginalized neighborhoods, other concerned citizens, students, myself, and others participated in their first and only civic engagement opportunities through this organization and were subsequently left with no connections, a barrier to being civically engaged. Through interviews and secondary data research, the relationship between people, mediating structures, and civic engagement activity are examined. The key findings support existing research that emphasizes the importance of mediating structures when it comes to civic engagement.
ContributorsSickler, Shawn (Author) / Luna, Ilana (Thesis advisor) / Hager, Mark (Committee member) / Keahey, Jennifer (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016

Understanding how Arizona Young Adults’ Identities Correlate with discrimination, American Identity, and Voting Habits

Description
This paper furthers the examination of the complex relationship between discrimination, identity, and voting habits. This analysis uses data from the Arizona Youth Identity Project conducted in October and September of 2020 to uncover the salient correlations amongst different identities with experiences of discrimination, American Identity, and presidential candidate preference…

This paper furthers the examination of the complex relationship between discrimination, identity, and voting habits. This analysis uses data from the Arizona Youth Identity Project conducted in October and September of 2020 to uncover the salient correlations amongst different identities with experiences of discrimination, American Identity, and presidential candidate preference in the 2020 election among the youth voting population in Arizona. The research shows that for this demographic of voters, identities including race, gender, social class, and age are crucial when uncovering patterns of levels of discrimination, American Identity, and candidate preference The study also went further to highlight relationships among intersections of both race and gender with the same measured outcomes.
ContributorsErnaut, Isabella (Author) / Martin, Nathan (Thesis director) / Neuner, Fabian (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor)
Created2024-05

Election Misinformation Hindering American Democracy: How Social Media Influences Latine Political Attitudes and Participation

Description
This thesis assesses Latine voter's political attitudes and civic engagement. Specifically, probing the association between news consumption and views related to elections and the state of American democracy and civic engagement. Using the 2022 Univision Survey of Arizona Registered Voters conducted by Arizona Universities. Using RStudio, a novel measure of…

This thesis assesses Latine voter's political attitudes and civic engagement. Specifically, probing the association between news consumption and views related to elections and the state of American democracy and civic engagement. Using the 2022 Univision Survey of Arizona Registered Voters conducted by Arizona Universities. Using RStudio, a novel measure of news information diet across multiple sources and created visuals that illustrate where Latinos are getting their political education, while also acknowledging the dangers of being exposed to misinformation based on the frequency of consumption. To complement analyses of mass attitudes, internal testimonies from community organizers in nonprofit organizations to understand how campaign investments aim to increase Latino civic engagement in Arizona. The combination of public opinion data and community leader perspectives offers a more complete set of insights regarding the place and role of Latinos in broader debates about the stability of American democracy.
ContributorsGalvez, Nathalya (Author) / Pedraza, Francisco (Thesis director) / Ripley, Charles (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor)
Created2024-05