Is the internet bad for democracy? How people do politics since and with the internet is the topic of discussion. Our contributors begin with this question, before casting an eye over the latest examples of internet use by governments across the globe. Finally, we'll turn to new and intriguing efforts to use the internet, locally and globally, to facilitate solutions to political problems lying beyond the nation state. Plus: The e-democracy world map.
The real bias in Wikipedia: a response to David Shariatmadari
Wikipedia's visionless, self-selected, value-light online encyclopedia is a deformed shadow of what the global public deserves, says former editor-in-chief of Encyclopædia Britannica, Robert McHenry.
The sultan and the glamour model
"The same patterns seen in the mass media are replicating themselves on the internet." David Shariatmadari speaks to the Wikipedians countering systemic bias in the world’s biggest encyclopaedia.
EU data retention: access all areas
A directive that challenges our fundamental right to privacy became law in the EU this month. Monica Horten charts its course through Brussels and details the concerns of its many critics
E-government: who controls the controllers?
The promise of e-government is a transparent, accessible, efficient state in a new partnership with its citizens. But, asks Giovanni Navarria, could it be the model of an invisible model of political control?
The future of dissent: hacking Chinese censorship
Should we despair at the power of an authoritarian regime to censor the most democratic force of our time? Giovanni Navarria sees a ray of hope burst through the clouds hanging over Chinese netizens.
Wiki-ocracy
As the first international Wikimania conference is held this week in Frankfurt, pioneer Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan – who will blog for openDemocracy from the event – tests the “wiki’s” democratic potential in a bold new experiment.
The age of surveillance: a new 'dotcom boom'?
Will the era of digital networks and terrorism produce the worst of both worlds: a society of mass surveillance that increases insecurity? William Davies maps a new political-technological frontier.
Identity cards: nothing to hide, nothing to fear?
The British government is intent on making identity cards essential to citizens’ daily lives. Shami Chakrabarti, director of the civil-rights group Liberty, is unpersuaded by its arguments.
Britain's non-identity crisis
ID cards will only prove what British citizens are not. Hans Steketee asks: what kind of identity is that?
Identity politics
Britain’s government plans to introduce a national identity-card system. Are fears of state intrusion on civil liberties justified? Sweden’s experience offers an answer, reports Sara Forsstrom.
Spam with everything in Germany's election
The elections in North Rhine-Westphalia should be remembered for their far-right online politics as well as for the defeat of Germany’s ruling party, says Alan Connor.
This week's editor
Europe from the bottom up
European debate
Democratic Wealth
Nuclear non-proliferation
oDRussia at journalismfestival .com
Mali - the plot thickens
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Remote control war
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Conference coverage from 50.50
Articles exploring the themes of the fourth international Nobel Women's Initiative conference May 28-31. Jennifer Allsopp and Heather McRobie will be reporting for 5050
Articles exploring the themes of the fourth international Nobel Women's Initiative conference May 28-31. Jennifer Allsopp and Heather McRobie will be reporting for 5050
Cities in Conflict
Window on the Middle East
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Our Authors
Lis Howell On broadcasting
Dan Hancox Revel, Riot and Rebellion
Martin Rose Bliss Was It in that Dawn to Be Next Door
Vron Ware Up in Arms
Jim Gabour Sunday Comics
James Warner Standing Perpendicular, as books do
Markha Valenta Inter Alia: religion, politics, culture
Paul Rogers on Global security
Mary Kaldor on Human security
Lis Howell On broadcasting
Dan Hancox Revel, Riot and Rebellion
Martin Rose Bliss Was It in that Dawn to Be Next Door
Vron Ware Up in Arms
Jim Gabour Sunday Comics
James Warner Standing Perpendicular, as books do
Markha Valenta Inter Alia: religion, politics, culture
Paul Rogers on Global security
Mary Kaldor on Human security
