Technology, Social Media, and Politics: On Intellectualism
Where education and experience were once both prized and sought, this is no longer true within some circles. It began long before the arrival of the Internet and social media, likely with the conservative backlash to the liberalism of the 1960s and 70s, but simply because the issue is not rooted in modern methods does not abdicate responsibility for the present. Somewhere in the last few decades, certain politicians and politicos decided that those who were educated and experienced represented a so-called elite way of life, a life that remained distant and separate from what they labeled as the average American.
“Technology, Social Media, and Politics: Part V, On Intellectualism” is part of an extended series from contributor Kyle Brady for SiliconFilter on the interaction of modern technology and various aspects of politics.
Part I covered the communications revolution of technologically-influenced politics, Part II discussed the affects on discourse orientation and divisiveness, Part III explored the results of this modernization of politics on foreign policy and international relations, and Part IV considered the effects on voting systems theory.
This final piece of the series will look at the effect technology and social media has had on knowledge, intellectualism, and the appreciation of both.
This concept grew over time, and has exploded in the modern era, where anyone and everyone can speak or write in public at great length, garner a following, and have their views spread wide, regardless of their education or experience. What is missing here, however, is that while a true meritocracy may not emphasize background, it still values and elevates objective greatness and talent – characteristics commonly associated with individuals of education and experience.
Intellectualism, as a consequence, appears to have suffered. Academics and professionals are no longer viewed by some as in the best positions to ruminate on the areas of their expertise; rather, when their opinions or prescriptions no longer advance those of the anti-elite digerati, these experts are decried as elitist non-experts who are, ironically enough, pushing an agenda. Nowhere is this more prominent than on blogs, both mainstream and underground, Twitter, and Facebook.
This is a modern era that revels in increased communication, greater political involvement, and personal political accountability, but also suffers for the omnipresent dissemination of fact-free opinions, propaganda, and counter-factual arguments. Technology and social media may have revolutionized the way in which individuals communicate with themselves and those in power, but it still has substantial work to accomplish if it will ever be the truly democratizing influence that so many wish it to be.
In a world where commentary can be anonymous, vitriolic, and vehement, there can be no true, good-faith political conversations, at least between those of diametrically opposite ideologies. And it is the conflict between these same opposing ideologies that is presently causing significant damage to the political system, reputation, and relevance of the United States.
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About the author
This guest post was written by Kyle Brady. Kyle is a young political scientist and writer interested in everything from domestic politics to foreign policy to political theory, currently living in San Jose, CA. He blogs at kyle-brady.com, contributes to assorted publications, and is writing a book on the modern political scene in America. Socially, Kyle can be found on Twitter, on Google+, on Facebook, and via email.
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