Characteristics,Positive and Negative Effects of Political Participation via Internet and Correspondant Measures to be Adopted

Political participation via the intemet is characterized by the equal participators, the free participating space, the cheap participating means and the virtual identity, and it functions as a double-edged sword. It can upgrade the political participation channels and means, arouse the public interest in participation, expand the political participation scale, increase the degree of citizens' politicization of society, and promote the uncorruptness and efficiency of the government Nevertheless, the political participation via the Internet creates the incredibility of information, the crisis about the legality of the political system, and the new social inequality. Therefore, political participation via the Internet should be further developed in such aspects as participating mechanism, participators' capabilities, the cultures invorved, and the role of the government.