R. Karl Rethemeyer
Policymaking in the Age of Internet: Is the Internet Tending to Make Policy Networks More or Less Inclusive?
University at Albany, State University of New York|Albany State University
although many policy political scientists studied internets role electoral organizational processes little work examines internets effect policy processes internet tended make policy deliberations inclusive affected patterns influence reputation among network participants internet helped bring new organizations policy debates study provides preliminary answers questions treating policy networks type interorganizational network socialized resource dependence framework developed deployment internet conceptualized exogenous shock shock alters material resource base policy network allows actors inside outside network challenge structural power holders structural power holders attempt mold use internet protect position perquisites test framework data collected two policy networks newstatiaone focused adult basic education policy mental health policy policy networks appear become exclusive since deployment internet electronic central discussion networks cores primarily populated actors already entrenched positions structural power within network possessed high influence ratings internet communication occurs members electronic core least preliminarily internet appears reinforce existing patterns authority influence