Downloading Democracy? Potential and Limitations of the Internet for Advancing Citizens’ Rights in Latin America

Abstract

This paper analyses the use of internet in Latin America, how it is perceived and by which means it was allowed for public access. Internet is perceived as threatening by the socialist regimes of Latin America., Latin American countries which cannot resist improvements in means of communications with the developments in media technologies, have been spreading the access to internet within limited democratization. However, states maintain their control over internet by following different ways. The ones escaping from the established filters, like Zapatistas, call attention to potential of internet as much as they made their voices heard.

Keywords

Latin America, Internet, Communication, Zapatista Guerillas, Cuba.

Citation

Hoffmann, Bert, “Downloading Democracy? Potential and Limitations of the Internet for Advancing Citizens’ Rights in Latin America”, International Relations, Volume 4, Issue 16 (Winter 2007-2008), pp. 97-113.

Affiliations

• Bert Hoffmann, N/A