Communicative Inequalities in Online Political Discussion: A Study of Discussion Forums from 54 Societies

28 Pages Posted: 18 Feb 2016

See all articles by Hai Liang

Hai Liang

Independent

Fei Shen

City University of Hong Kong (CityU); Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Date Written: August 1, 2015

Abstract

The present study examines political discussion forums from 54 societies and links communicative inequality to features of cultural traditions, value orientations, and political systems. Results show that inequalities among discussion threads in attracting readers’ attention and responses exist in all discussion forums. Most of the discussion threads received a small number of views and replies while only a fraction of them became popular. Most importantly, we found that communicative inequalities in online political discussion forums are subject to cultural and political influences at the societal level. Discussion threads received relatively more equal treatment in democracies, individualistic cultures, low power distance cultures, and yet less rational societies.

Keywords: Communicative inequality, political discussion, participation inequality, attention inequality, discussion forums

Suggested Citation

Liang, Hai and Shen, Fei, Communicative Inequalities in Online Political Discussion: A Study of Discussion Forums from 54 Societies (August 1, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2733666 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2733666

Hai Liang

Independent ( email )

Fei Shen (Contact Author)

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) ( email )

83 Tat Chee Avenue
Kowloon
Hong Kong

Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society ( email )

Harvard Law School
23 Everett, 2nd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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