Sergio Amadeu da Silveira - Cidadania e Redes Digitais

eng
c i t i z e n s h i p a n d d i g i t a l n e t w o r k s
2006). Indeed, many movements are relatively decentralized, with its leaders dispersed
over the network — that is, when leaders are identifiable.
Another common argument is the lack of commitment of those who reduce their
political participation to signing electronic petitions or to tweeting and retweeting
protest hashtags. Such movements are described as being weak, passive strategies of
political participation.
In short, it is argued that political participation on the Internet would be almost
innocuous or just a semblance of participation; or at least that the Internet would
be much less powerful than techies and activists advertise.
This debate needs to be better contextualized. Firstly, it is unreasonable to imagine
that a daily, informal political action would generate instant results. There is an
expectation of speed in achieving results on the Internet that is not consistent with
any form of political participation.
Any political change has a proper time (kairos) and only takes place under contingent
situations. As an example, take the demands of the 60’s. Many of them have
only materialized twenty or thirty years later — among them, the end of dictatorship
in Brazil.
The #forasarney movement 1 that happens today might represent the rise of conditions
for a better electoral choice tomorrow. Or it might represent nothing at all, as well
as several struggles that lost their spirit over time; and as not even the media, which
made all possible denounce about him, still could not take Sarney from his place neither
prevent other suspected politicians from being reelected. The media does not achieve
miracles, but education might do so. In Brazil, a political reform would also come in
handy. However, there are few politicians with enough courage to take it further.
Secondly, citizens cannot be taken for fools (CERTEAU, 1990). Politics is a
historical process made of little events that also take place in informal environments.
This is a phenomenon of prosaic and creative everyday life that is sometimes imperceptible
to political experts and professionals. No regime or state of affairs falls to
the ground without any support from daily life, whether it is a military dictatorship,
the presidency of Fernando Collor 2 or that of George Bush. The informal processes
1. Translator’s note: a Twitter-based movement occurred in 2009, asking for the resignation of Brazilian
President of the Senate, José Sarney — who never left the position.
2. Translator’s note: Brazilian former president (1990-1992) who resigned just before the Senate voted
for his impeachment for proven corruption charges.
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