Democracy

The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. Also commonly defined as majority rule, or government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.

DFE Proposal: Issue book on Information; database project

Submitted by Anne on December 1, 2006 - 8:52pm
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I have two possible ideas for a DFE proposal at the Charles F. Kettering Foundation in Dayton OH. One is definitely doable from a distance, and the other would at the very least require several trips to Dayton. These ideas are different than from what I presented in class for Texas Forums. I think working with Taylor Willingham on wikis and online deliberation would be wonderful, but I know I am not in a position to do so with my current skill set. I am interested in talking to the Illinois students about their work with Taylor.

SI Hosts MCRI Panel: Pat Gurin, Mick McQuaid, and Bob Frost, 11/3/06, 11:20-1pm, 411 West Hall

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SI invites you to a very special event this Friday, November 3 @ 11:20-1pm, in 411 West Hall. We are hosting Pat Gurin (expert witness in the University of Michigan’s defense of its undergraduate and law school admissions policies), and School of Information faculty Mick McQuaid and Bob Frost on a panel discussing the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative in an information context. Please come and ask questions!!! Lunch is provided.

Unchat

Submitted by Anne on October 11, 2006 - 10:58am
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At my last job at the Kettering Foundation, Unchat gave a presentation. This was several years ago, and I'm not sure about the status of this software. Regardless, I thought I would post a link to it as it is related to our Friday discussion on Civic Applications. I found a few organizations using it including MIT. Ben Barber and Beth Noveck were the brains behind this project. Unchat hopes to provide a chat software program that encourages deliberation. From their web site: "Put to use in civic and political debates, learning and educational development, community building and non-profit communications, corporate meetings and knowledge management, our software will enhance discussion, nurture deliberation and facilitate the arbitration of differences and the quest for common ground."

NetSquared

Submitted by Paul Resnick on February 16, 2006 - 11:51am
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May 30-31. Details here.

vibrant, action-oriented dialogue among five communities (broadly defined):

  1. Cutting edge futurists, innovators, developers, and mediastes
  2. Leaders from both core technology and social web tool companies and from venture capital firms
  3. Philanthropists
  4. Public Interest Technology practitioners and supporters
  5. Nonprofits and NGOs- large and small -- from the U.S. and the World - early adopting and on the cusp - united by a vibrant interest in understanding the potential of the social web and realizing that potential to accomplish their missions.

Michael Walzer: background for in-class discussion

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For those of you currently on campus, or those of you with a passion for civil society cognoscenti, I'm providing two links that ought to provide some background on Michael Walzer, author of "The Idea of Civil Society," which will be discussed in lecture this Friday, November 17th, 2005. First is an interview from the UNESCO Courier. It addresses some of Walzer's views on the intersections of race and identity politics with civil society:

http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_01/uk/dires/txt1.htm

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