Accelerated pluralism is a theory coined by American political scientist Bruce Bimber which claims that "the net is accelerating the process of issue

group formation In group theory, a branch of mathematics, a formation is a class of groups closed under taking images and such that if ''G''/''M'' and ''G''/''N'' are in the formation then so is ''G''/''M''∩''N''. introduced formations to unify the theory of ...

and

action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

". As a method of mobilization, it relies on information communication technologies (ICT), particularly the

Internet The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...

as a tool to promote all kinds of ideological projects or to form

social movement A social movement is either a loosely or carefully organized effort by a large group of people to achieve a particular goal, typically a Social issue, social or Political movement, political one. This may be to carry out a social change, or to re ...

s. Bimber based his theory on the idea that "the processes of group-oriented politics will show less coherence and less correspondence with established private and public institutional structures".

Concept

Accelerated pluralism operates within a landscape typified by an acceleration of the existing tendencies of liberal democratic politics towards a contest of groups, which coalesce according to narrowly defined interests. The theory views these groups as not interested in politics except for the issue they are concerned about. Due to information communication technologies, the incorporation of groups into the networked whole was made easier and simpler so that coordination and autonomy are enhanced while access to sources of information is facilitated. These lead to the creation of new forms of direct action. It also result to a fragmented and more fluid system with diminished institutional coherence. The concept is related to other representational models such as

Michael Schudson Michael S. Schudson Michael S. Schudson (born November 3, 1946) is professor of journalism in the graduate school of journalism of Columbia University and adjunct professor in the department of sociology. He is professor emeritus at the Universi ...

's "monitorial citizen" and Stephen Coleman's direct representational model. As a method of group formation, accelerated pluralism is unique because through the use of the Internet people are able to congregate in virtual public sphere and decide which form of action to take. According to the Center for Democracy and Technology's Daniel Weitzner, the Internet facilitates a “one-to-one interaction…between citizens and government” something that is missing in today's politics. Accelerated pluralism played a major role in the mobilization efforts of the

Arab Spring The Arab Spring () was a series of Nonviolent resistance, anti-government protests, Rebellion, uprisings, and Insurgency, armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s. It began Tunisian revolution, in Tunisia ...

, Occupy and

Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a Decentralization, decentralized political and social movement that aims to highlight racism, discrimination and Racial inequality in the United States, racial inequality experienced by black people, and to pro ...

social movements by allowing the participants to congregate cheaply and quickly. ICTs in combination with accelerated pluralism played a major role in the "ignition of social protest, the cascade of inspiring images and stories" in social movements. Bimber, however, noted that accelerated pluralism may not always lead to positive development since it could drive radical dissent.

References

{{reflist Social movements Social change Internet activism

Concept

See also

References