Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

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The Internet and Internal Party Democracy

Link to Research Paper
Year of Publication: 2006
Hans Geser
Institute of Sociology Zurich

This paper examines the effect of Internet use on the influence distribution between ordinary members and leadership. It is concluded that on the one hand the Executive Board strengthens its own position when relying on electronic communication, while on the other hand, vertical e-mail traffic promotes small power shift in favour of active party members and party assemblies.