All-Russian scientific conference
"e-Government in the Information Society: Theory and Practice"

THE INTERNET IN RUSSIA AS AN INSTRUMENT OF POLITICAL TECHNOLOGIES: RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS 1999-2000

D.G. Ivanov

Russian State University for the Humanities
Moscow

During the parliament and president elections in Russia 1999-2000 the Internet was first used by politicians as an instrument of communication. It had been determined by the following factors: the growing role of mass-media in Russian politics, social and demographic features of the Russian Internet audience, the spreading of the myths about the Internet in the public opinion. The summarizing of the experience of the election campaign 1999-2000 gives an opportunity to mark out the following technologies: demonstration in mass-media of a politician using the Internet as the symbol of progress; presentation in mass-media of a politician's position in the Internet, adequate to his position in political life; imitation of the functioning political structure in the Internet; making of the show of the Internet audience supporting a politician; using of the Internet as a communication instrument with no limitations of ordinary mass-media; legitimating of information through its publication in the Internet and retranslation in the press and television.

[Russian version]

Original URL — http://imsconference2002.spbu.ru/02-enGOVf09.htm