Assessing the Radical Democracy of Indymedia: Discursive, Technical, and Institutional Constructions

Abstract

This study examines the radical democratic principles manifest in Indymedia's discursive, technical, and institutional practices. By focusing on a case study of the Seattle Independent Media Center and contextualizing it within theories and critiques of radical democracy, this article fleshes out strengths, weaknesses, and recurring tensions endemic to Indymedia's internet-based activism. These findings have important implications for alternative media making and radical politics in general.

Keywords:

• Alternative Media
• Cyberactivism
• Democratic Theory
• Independent Media Centers
• Indymedia
• Networks
• Radical Democracy
• Social Movements

Earlier versions of this paper were presented at the 2003 Association of Internet Researchers conference in Toronto and the 2004 International Communication Association conference in New Orleans. This paper derives from the author's Master's thesis at the University of Washington under the direction of Lance Bennett, and committee members David Domke and Kirsten Foot.

Earlier versions of this paper were presented at the 2003 Association of Internet Researchers conference in Toronto and the 2004 International Communication Association conference in New Orleans. This paper derives from the author's Master's thesis at the University of Washington under the direction of Lance Bennett, and committee members David Domke and Kirsten Foot.

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Ted Coopman, Sascha Meinrath, and the editors and reviewers of CSMC for their suggestions. The author also gives special thanks to past and present activists of the Seattle Independent Media Center.

Notes

Earlier versions of this paper were presented at the 2003 Association of Internet Researchers conference in Toronto and the 2004 International Communication Association conference in New Orleans. This paper derives from the author's Master's thesis at the University of Washington under the direction of Lance Bennett, and committee members David Domke and Kirsten Foot.

1. Henceforth I reserve “Indymedia” for the global network in general. I refer to the “Seattle IMC” when I am talking about it specifically.

2. In the late fall and early winter of 2003–2004 the Seattle IMC went through a tumultuous period. It temporarily closed down, in part due to financial problems with maintaining a large space in downtown Seattle. It has since reopened a space in Seattle but no longer in the central downtown area.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Victor W. Pickard

Victor W. Pickard is a PhD candidate in the Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign