Information Society and Civil Society in Japan

Laurie Freeman is a Professor of Political Science at UC Santa Barbara. Professor Freeman discusses several of the local (historical, regulatory and technological) factors shaping Internet development in Japan, and evaluate their potential impact on Japanese democracy, especially their role in the creation of an active, literate and participatory information and civil society. She presents on two cases and their potential impacts: 1) strict government controls on Internet use during electoral campaigns, and 2) the rapid rise and diffusion of web-enabled cell phones. Originally recorded June 7, 2002 at UC Santa Barbara.