{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.020042949176807445, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0021474588403722263, 'mean_word_length': 5.576470588235294, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
The politics of information : information, communication and democracy in Fiji

The aim of this thesis is to examine the impact of information on democracy. Its primary purpose is to test the hypothesis that access to information is a political necessity for democracy, and that the introduction of measures to ensure information access are constrained by cultural, social, political, technical and economic factors. The impact of information and communication on political transformation is explored at the global and national levels. The global analysis was undertaken by first, establishing an overview of the information and communication situation, and second, by making a comparative assessment of the intra-societal penetration of information and communication systems. The national or micro-level analysis comprised a detailed case study of the relationship between information, communication and democracy in one country, Fiji. Research was conducted using the triangulation method incorporating in-depth interviews, participant observation, discussions in groups and library and archives research, I developed two questionnaires and an interview schedule to explore the different perceptions and attitudes held by the Fijians about information, communication and how these affected their role in politics. Three groups of interviews were conducted. A total of 640 people were interviewed in selected urban areas. Another 100 academics and professionals inthe urban areas were interviewed. The research in the village was based on group discussions. The findings of this study suggest that there is a correlation between information, communication and democracy. However, the degree of this correlation is influenced and controlled by cultural, political, technical, social and economic factors, For countries that are democratic, information access is high. For countries with insecure governments and authoritarian philosophies, the trend is to control information access and content. As far as the Fijians are concerned, the lack of information is not the problem, but rather, the difficulty is inherent in the way people perceive information, communication and democracy and their role in this; the impact of culture and politics in controlling the flow of information; the general negative attitudes on information held by leaders; and the lack of an organised information system in Fiji. In reality, many Fijians are not aware that information and communication are important development "tools" which can facilitate as well as control the transition to democracy. This thesis argues that the co-existence of the modern information/ommunication systems and the old, redefined and reinterpreted, could be effective in building a more informed and politically aware Fijian society.