Broadband Politics
How Are Online Political Capabilities
Being Used in Iberian and Latin American Countries?
Research conducted by Ricardo Amado
Castillo and Bruno Hoffmann, graduate student fellows at IPDI
This research project has been designed with the purpose of
developing an evaluation and a documentation of the use of online political
capabilities in Iberian and Latin American countries. The initiative is a shared effort between
the George Washington University's
Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet (IPDI) and the Graduate
School of Political Management Latin American Program. The study looks to take advantage of past
IPDI's research, publications and know how, as well as of the important Latin
American and Iberian network developed by the School Latin American
Program.
The project takes place in a context in which an important
number of Latin American and Iberian political parties, NGO's and Government
Institutions have set up internet initiatives intended to provide a
complimentary communication channel with their respective constituencies. While one of the expected outcomes of the
study is an evaluation of how the most relevant online tools are being used,
the scope of the project goes beyond that intention as it will look to help us
better understand causes and factors that either limit or foster the usage of
such innovations.
The study attempts to provide a framework with which diverse
political parties, NGO's and government institutions could evaluate and compare
their online efforts with peer organizations of other latitudes. At the same time, we are looking to provide a
practical tool full of recommendations in which readers could obtain practical
insight and ideas on how to improve their internet initiatives.
The project will incorporate the following 16 countries:
Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica,
Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Ecuador and
Guatemala; and it is expected to be completed in two phases, the initial one
oriented to the Study of Political Parties, and the second oriented to NGO's
and Government Institutions. We expect
each phase to be completed in no more than six months. The results of the study are expected to be
presented in IPDI's web site as well as in an event in which participants and
authors will share ideas, experiences and learned lessons.
About the researchers:
Ricardo Amado
Castillo is currently pursuing a Master in Political Management at the George Washington
University with a focus
in Campaign Management. Before coming to
the GWU/GSPM he received an MBA focused in Entrepreneurship (Instituto
de Empresa, Spain)
and also has Graduate Studies in Political Sciences and Political
Communications (Venezuela). His professional experience of more than 10
years has been related to Technological initiatives. He led two consulting ventures dedicated to
provide IT analytical services to large Telecom and Oil corporations. Mr.
Castillo's current career objective is to mix his previous professional experience
with a Political Management theoretical framework in order to develop a
consulting practice oriented to Latin American and Iberian Political
Parties.
Bruno Hoffmann is
completing his Master's Degree in Political Management at the George Washington
University, concentrating
on Campaign Management and Issues Management. He also has a B.A. in Social
Communication with an emphasis in Advertising. (BrasÃlia, Brazil).
He strongly believes that online communication is the most important and
innovative tool to spread democracy. On that matter his GWU thesis topic is the
Usage of the Internet in the 2008 Brazilian Political Campaigns. Mr. Hoffmann's
professional experience encompasses a variety of departments within the
communication area. Most recently, he has worked on the online political
strategy of several U.S.
democratic leaders. He has also been a
prominent political blogger since 2006, focusing on the U.S. 2008
presidential election and the Brazilian/Latin American political arena.
