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On Intentionality and Motivation in Digital Spaces

A Response to Flinders and Wood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Max Halupka
Max Halupka*
Affiliation:
Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra
*
E-mail: Max.Halupka@canberra.edu.au
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Abstract

Wood and Flinders posit that intentionality and motivation are critical sites of analysis when determining whether an act is, or should be made out to be, political or apolitical. I agree with this assertion—both the intention behind an actor’s act, for example, what motivates the action, must be taken into consideration before such classifications are made. Yet, intentionality and motivation are more complicated and problematic than the authors make them out to be—especially online.

Keywords

agencydigital politicsintentionalitymotivationpolitics

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Democratic Theory , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , December 2018 , pp. 82 - 89
Copyright
Copyright © Berghahn Books 2018

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