Political analysts in the States have recognized the power of the Internet as a fund-raising and organizing vehicle for some time. The Democratic Party, in particular, has benefitted from Web-based organizations such as MoveOn.Org, and Howard Dean’s failed candidacy owed its remarkable success to his Web strategy. The genius behind Dean’s campaign, Joe Trippi, has now published a book on the subject: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
With this in mind, I have been watching the growing HARTZ IV anti-reform protests in Germany. The position of the Red-Green ruling coalition is that the discontent is based primarily on lack of knowledge of the new policies, and to this end Schrö:der has launched an unprecedented ‘Information Campaign’ so the people can understand why the reforms are necessary and good for them. In spite of this enlightenment action, the protests this last Monday were twice as large as the previous week’s. More than 90,000 people participated in the Montagsdemos.
I have found several Web sites such as Wir Machen Mobil.de which serve as information clearing houses and discussion forums for the protest movement. Other sites provide up-to-the-minute news on the time and place for the next demonstration (many thanks to Der Rollberg ). The mainstream news media in Germany by and large views these summer protests as a temporary phenomenon that will quickly fade over the next couple of months. Based on the gowing activity we see in cyberspace, however, it is clear that something more fundamental is taking place.
Oh, and by the way, all the information you need to follow the upcoming protests agains the Republican National Convention in New York City can be found here.
