Technology Impacts to Political Process Change

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Technology Impacts to Political Process Change

The advancement in technology has efficiently changed the political process enabling people to be significantly involved in political campaigns than ever before. Technology varies from the internet services to the communication media where nowadays the politicians have no control of the information that reaches the eligible voters. Technology advancement efficiently impacts generation to the other as it helps in coming up with new techniques to enhance credibility and accuracy in politics. The social media have the supremacy to influence public opinion, and the politicians on the other side might be the victims of technology or be the beneficiaries. Technology is not only vital in keeping an eye on the political aspirants and enhancing effective campaigns but also plays a significant role in carrying out the elections. Today’s political discussion has shifted from rallies and other physical meeting events to social media platforms and smartphones. In this paper, the changes enhanced by technology are discussed in a more profound context.

The political process is sensitive and vital part of the society that people has to be keen on enhancing political stability, unity, and peace in the nation. The internet and other technology such as scientific and industrial innovations have significantly impacted politics. As everyone knows, change is inevitable not only in the political field but also in the social and economic sectors as technology modernization leads to social growth and development. Many nations which are democratic make use of internet services and technology to enhance efficiency in the political process to ensure satisfaction of both the political aspirants and the voters (Almond & Verba 2015). The ways by which technology have dramatically changed the political process include social influence, the threat of viral information spread, the introduction of new issues, keener campaigns, reachability, cost, personalization, engagement, participation, and fundraising among many others.

To begin with is a social influence as one of the outcomes of technology in the change of political process starting from campaigns to elections. The communication channels such as the television, newspapers and online social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram among many others have vastly changed politics. Also, the internet, in general, is perfect in ensuring perfect political process where the politicians and voters will effectively communicate and be updated with all the relevant information. Through the social channels, the politicians do not address people directly hence able to speak to a large number of voters all over the country at the same time. It is via social media platforms that people can quickly air their views regarding politics as it was not the case before where no opportunity to give views was accredited. Through a single post on Facebook or Twitter, a politician is capable of sharing the information with a large number of people worldwide (McNair, 2017).

It is through technology that the political aspirants are forced to be keen and be positive minded when selling their policies. Every time that politicians gathers a conference whether locally or in the urban areas they have to keep in mind that people have advanced and will use smartphones or any other applicable gadget to record the information. It is evident in that many political aspirants has been having issues spread on the internet and social media platforms that can be used by the voters as a judgment whether to vie for that particular person. Also, enemies can use the internet and other technology to spread viral information with the aim of demolishing publicity of a particular politician. Therefore, the aspirants have to be keen and capable of using and following the updates on the internet and social media to protect their well-being and ensure survivability.

Furthermore, technology has enhanced personalization and engagement in the political background. Today, the politicians are interviewed and dealt with as individuals and not as a political party as it was the case before. It makes the political process efficiency as the voters will be able to know the exact character who is vying for a specific position. The policies and communication of the candidates will enable the public to determine who have the best leadership traits and suits the position. The media plays an essential role in enhancing direct communication and creating bases for a long-term bond between the aspirant and the voter. Engagement with voters comes through participating in interviews and other discussions on the social media platforms (Migdal, 2015). The social media has correctly created an audience, and any candidate who has the capability of a good representation will at all the times have a majority voters favor.

Raising funds for the campaign is the biggest threat to the candidates that are vying for different political posts. To enhance success, there must be a sound solution to ensure adequate capital for supporting the campaign where a significant number of politicians get it through fundraising. The Internet is an excellent tool to facilitate such activity as all the supporters will have access to the payment methods at ease. For instance, there can be a linked add on the website or the social media page created whether the supporters can get the information regarding contribution methods.

From the above discussion, it is evident that internet and technology are crucial to success in the political field. The nation has the responsibility to ensure adoption of advanced technology not only for easing campaigns but also enhancing free, fair and credible elections. It is through political stability that there is significant social-economic growth and development in the society.

References

Almond, G. A., & Verba, S. (2015). The civic culture: Political attitudes and democracy in five nations. Princeton university press.

McNair, B. (2017). An introduction to political communication. Taylor & Francis.

Migdal, J. S. (2015). Peasants, politics and revolution: Pressures toward political and social change in the Third World. Princeton University Press.