Crise democrática e democracia eletrônica

Abstract

The present research focuses on the mechanisms of democracy in the country in order to answer the question about access to information and communication technologies as a means to improve democracy. Adopting as a theoretical framework the democratic theory, the research intends to understand what is the objective of a democratic government and what are the main problems faced by it. In order to achieve this, the present research analyzes the works of Aristotle (2001), Rousseau (2002), Bobbio (2000) and Schumpeter (1961), Bonavides (2008), Böckenförde (2000), Rodotà and Müller (2003). Through democratic theory, the research wants to clarify whether electronic or digital technology can improve the dilemmas faced by the mechanisms of direct and representative democracy. The research has a bibliographic and qualitative nature, with preponderant use of the deductive methodology and indirect sources. This dissertation started from the hypothesis that, provided that access to the Internet is treated as a fundamental right and promoted with equality by the State, electronic democracy would really be able to increase popular participation in decisions, as well as the legitimacy of direct democracy mechanisms. This hypothesis was confirmed throughout the research, since the internet is an inexpensive way to enable the participation of all individuals in community decisions. However, in order for this to be possible, access inequality must first be overcome, which does not allow the hypocrites the possibility of participation in the cyber media. Thus, the present research concludes that electronic democracy, as a means to achieve the right to information and the right to access, should be considered a fundamental right, leading to the adoption of public policies for its implementation. It should be noted, however, that considering the use of the Internet as a fundamental right is only one of the measures necessary to generate a real reformulation of the Brazilian socio-political organization.