Published Monday, February 18, 2008 at 15:58
by
jonworth 
in European democracy & diversity (745 views and 6 comments)
Rather than political ideology as such, I would like to start my posts as 'blogger of the week' here at Yourspace with some reflections about campaign tactics ahead of the 2009 European elections, for it strikes me that this election offers more prospect for interesting uses of the internet than any other election fought anywhere in Europe to date.
First of all, the very existence of Yourspace is the most radical departure from what has happened prior to previous European elections - Web 2.0 technologies (blogs, forums, YouTube etc.) allow centre-left activists from across Europe to participate in policy discussions prior to the elections. We're of course profiting from the achievements of Ségolène Royal's Désirs d'Avenir in the 2007 Presidential Elections - her site demonstrated what's possible - but for EU-wide policy discussion there's simply no way to organise it other than online.
Secondly the Treaty of Lisbon, and its ongoing ratification, give 2009 added significance. Not only will the European Parliament elections take place, but a new Commission team will be chosen, and for the first time there will be a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (aka EU Foreign Minister) and 30-month President of the European Council. Citizens across the EU want to debate about these positions, and have a say about the top positions. Online initiatives like Nyt Europa's 'Who's Your Candidate?' are sure to increase.
Thirdly, European elections never receive the kind of press coverage that national elections do, and campaign finances tend to be very restricted too. Further, candidates have to strive for election on large regional or even national lists - so going out on the street and knocking on doors is not as effective as in other elections. Hence candidates are going to have to invest more in what they write and publicise online. The Socialist Group in the EP has a handy list of the all the MEPs writing blogs but with literally thousands of PES party candidates on ballot papers in 2009 that list really needs to grow. Digiactive has prepared an excellent Guide to Blog Advocacy - there's plenty for candidates to learn there.
So let's gear up for Europe's e-election 2009!
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Comments
1. Across the Atlantic by Asynjen
on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 11:07
I'm also looking forward to seing what the European elections will bring with respect to new media campaigning! In the US elections there's definetely a lot of new and exciting new media initiatives, just check out Obama and Clinton on Facebook and YouTube. I'm hoping for a similar development at this side of the Atlantic!2. Welcome! by editor on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 11:08
Welcome to Yourspace, Jon. I hope you'll have a great week here!3. Fundraising online... by jonworth
on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 12:48
I specifically made no mention of fundraising in my post, as that's the area I'm most sceptical about - are European party supporters ready to pay money to support their candidates online? Or is the general public ready to give that way? I doubt it somehow... Plus in some countries of the EU where the state funds political parties it's hard to do in any case.4. List of top political online tools? by brusselsblogger on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 09:22
Does anyone know a web site with a comprehensive overview of the best online campaigning / transparency / political tools in Europe and the US?
I mean, one reads about one or the other in blogs when they are launched, but what I would be looking for is an overview of the top 10 sites in the US, France, UK, Germany for example.
5. What are the top media in general for EU debate? by lena lin
on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 11:12
Yes, it would be good to know the top 10 blogger sites in Europe.
We need also to know the top 10 media, in general, for EU debate! What news webb portals/sites, what TV channels, what newspapers, what radio stations are the best in covering EU debates? When I was at the pes council in Sofia last year, I was impressed by a Bulgarian weekly newspaper with virtually one page each for all 27 countries in the EU.
Good of you, Jon, to make us think through how to organize before 2009 elections!
6. more 2.0 by Asynjen
on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 21:06
Yes, the elections will be here before we know it, so it's good to get in gear already now! Great to see this brainstorm session on Yourspace.
@brusselsblogger - this is not exactly the type of site you're asking about, but it's still an interesting reader:
Public Affairs 2.0: http://pagoesdigital.wordpress.com
This site keep a close eye on the different online campaign/ communication activities going on in and around the European institutions. Yourspace and the PES are frequently mentioned.
As said earlier Facebook seems to be really hot as a campaign tool right now! In my opinion that would be a clear no. 1 on a top ten of web 2.0 campaigning tools.
@Lena lin - I've never come across an index of European bloggers, but I know there's book by blogger Iain Dale who ranks 400 UK political blogs: http://www.politicos.co.uk/books/25828.htm
Does anyone know of a European index, perhaps even a left-wing one?
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