40: Information Technology and Politics

Laura Roselle, Elon University, lroselle@elon.edu

“Representation and Renewal,” the general theme of the 2012 annual meeting, provides scholars of information technology (IT) and politics an opportunity to explore the intersection of technological changes and political action. In the U.S. context, for example, to what degree has the Internet changed how legislatures function? How do candidates, interest groups, and citizens use information technologies, and with what effect? In the international context, what role has technology played in the uprisings in the Middle East? How, if at all, has Wikileaks changed international relations? What factors affect global governance of information technologies? How do information technologies affect learning about politics? Finally, how are new ITs, including social media, being incorporated into teaching and learning, and in research.
In addition to proposals that draw upon the conference theme, we welcome research that explores emerging topics in the field. Proposals offering innovative panel formats, beyond the traditional five-papers-and-a-discussant are encouraged.