USO DA INTERNET E OPORTUNIDADES DE PARTICIPAÇÃO POLÍTICA VIRTUAL NAS ELEIÇÕES MUNICIPAIS DE OUTUBRO DE 2008 NO BRASIL

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present the results of our research about the use of Internet for candidates of the 175 municipalities of the Brazilian capitals in the 2008 elections, giving the results of our content analysis of virtual interaction tools used by candidates for mayor in these municipalities. Using content analysis techniques based on models earlier elaborated by Ferber, Foltz and Puglize (2007) and Braga, Nicolas and França (2010) to detect patterns of Web use by candidates and mapping different modalities of interaction afforded by the Internet between candidates and voters, we arrive at two basic findings: (i) the existence of a "digital divide" between candidates from different regions and with varying degrees of education and wealthy; (ii) low diffusion of the use of "social networks" by the candidates, and even traditional mechanisms of interaction such as blogs, forums and chats. However, although the tools of "Web 2.0" have been little used in the last election for state capitals, the internet has given rise to some embryonic experiences of political participation that enable us to foresee the potential of this medium to significantly alter the relationship between candidates and opinion public in the coming municipal elections in Brazil.