Citizens Go Online

Probing the Political Potential of the Internet Galaxy

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Westminster for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Acknowledgements

I would have never finished this dissertation without the help, the guidance, and the friendship of John Keane, my supervisor and mentor. My debt towards him goes beyond the strict boundaries of this thesis. He has been a constant point of reference and support; I have learned from him much more than I ever expected. Grazie mille. Many thanks to everyone at the Centre for Study of Democracy, starting with my second supervisor Simon Joss for his suggestions and support. To Charlotte Reagan, Patrick Burke, Dan Greenwood, David Chandler, Aidan Hehir, Tom Moore, Liza Griffin, Paulina Tambakaki, Suzy Robson, Ali Paya, Maria Holt, and Harriet Evans, grazie!: thanks to your presence the Centre (and the nearby Yorkshire Grey!) sometimes felt like a second home. A special thanks goes to Maria Fotou, the first friend I made at CSD. Maria has been always there when I needed help desperately (efharisto poli!). And muchas gracias to Javier Gomez-Arribas whose friendship has more than once supported me when things seemed blue. Thanks to everyone at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung. If I managed to finish the dissertation is because I spent few but very productive months at the WZB. Of the many academics I have met and had a positive influence on the thesis and on my PhD experience, two deserve a special mention: Michael Schudson (Columbia University) for discussing with me some of the main ideas of the thesis; and Natalie Fenton (Goldsmith College) whose advices about the academic world were priceless.

My deepest gratitude to all those people whose relentless affection for me has made everything easier: (in random order) Adriano (if London had you what a place would be!); Donatella (studying at University without you is not the same, but I am happy you are around once again); Fabio (pity we always live so far apart!); Marian (muchas gracias, you made me smile a lot when I needed it the most); Ana (you are a real good friend!); Luca (London would be unbearable without you); Lea (our long walks through Hampstead Heat are always refreshing, mange tak.); Andrea  (I hope you finish soon as well…great to know you!); Max (your are in some ways the reason why I ended up doing a PhD, our random chats at the Eagle in Dublin led me here; thanks for the many critical advices you gave me along the way); and Tanja (our conversations are always a great pleasure; as is our rambling around London - hvala lepa). A thanks apart goes to Susanne: your presence and your exceptional understanding of my difficult situation in the last few months have been a constant source of strength for me. Vielen dank!

My deepest Love to my family without whose continuous support my life would be much more difficult. Andrea, Sara, Mimma, Piero, and Rosy what a great lot you are! Gino and John without your crucial help I would have never been able to start this adventure. My eternal gratitude to Marcella (my best friend… and also my sister) whose unconditional love always amazes me: it seems to know no limits. Thanks to Luciano and Erina, simply put: the best parents a son can wish for. And thanks a million to Max (the engineer) and Jordy (the destroyer): your contagious laughter and joyous love are a source of endless delight for me; you always make me the proudest uncle in the world.

Giovanni Navarria

London, August 2009