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This article investigates whether political use of the Internet affects users politically. Using a combination of log- and survey data from a study of Internet use during the Danish 2007 parliamentary election, a number of hypotheses are tested. The investigation finds that 30% of the survey respondents say they are influenced politically by their Internet use. However, they are only modestly influenced when it comes to "core values" such as party choice or important political issues, while respondents are affected more in terms of general political opinions and opinions on different candidates. Political interest is found to act as an important determinant for political activity on the Internet, and certain types of uses are found to have more profound political effects than others. Somewhat paradoxically—but in line with Zaller (1992) — those indicating they are "little" or "somewhat" interested in politics are found to be the most politically affected.

On the basis of data from a Danish nationwide representative survey, this article demonstrates, firstly, that virtual capital (compentence in using the internet) is a personal resource in its own right, independent of other types of personal resources. Secondly, it is demonstrated that there is a positive correlation between virtual capital and political parti- cipation and political efficacy. Thirdly, the article shows that for persons with a high level of virtual capital, the possession of virtual capital appe- ars to neutralize or overshadow the effect of education on political par- ticipation and political efficacy. The article points to the fact that the In- ternet enlarges the "opportunity structure" for the individual, thereby making it easier to find out about and participate in different activities, among these politics. Finally, the article discusses the question of whether "super-users" might be seen as (a part of) the so-called "creative class".

The Nordic countries are very often seen as leaders in climate policies; a leadership which is demonstrated both by their ambitious goals when it comes to GHG reduction targets as well as renewable energy. Rather than further underpinning this claim this paper, which is a comparative study of the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland) aims at finding the root causes of this long-time leadership. Furthermore, the article tries to explain the uniformity of the climate policies of the Nordic countries, which is quite surprising given the very different geographical/geological preconditions of the different countries. The answer to the first question is found in the combination of strong popular support of green policies, and a strong hegemonic ecological modernization discourse enabling broad compromises on ambitious climate policies by combining them with strategies for economic growth based on green technologies. In answering the second question it is firstly demonstrated that the Nordic countries are quite uniform when it comes to GHG reduction targets as well as choice of policy instruments. Secondly, it is shown that this uniformity is produced by a number of different institutions constituting a framework for collaboration among the Nordic countries in the area of climate and energy policies. These institutions were found to be The Nordic Council of Ministers, the European Union, the municipalities in the Nordic countries and different market based arrangements, like for example the Scandinavian common market for electricity.

The focus of this paper is on the places where citizens and public authorities meet – possible involving other stakeholders as well – to discuss, formulate and implement climate change mitigation policies at the local level. Through looking at a number of concrete cases stemming from the CIDEA research project and spread over the continuum from local government initiated to citizen initiated, and from projects aimed at changing individual behaviour to projects involving bigger communities (housing association, villages, etc.), it will be argued that both from a governance perspective (CO2-reductions), as well as from a democratic perspective, citizen initiated projects involving communities of different kinds are clearly superior to for example government initiated campaigns aimed at the behaviour of individuals. This finding has clear policy-implications meaning that local climate change mitigation policies should be aimed at finding ways to support citizen initiated initiatives to a greater extent than is currently the case. ; The focus of this paper is on the places where citizens and public authorities meet – possible involving other stakeholders as well – to discuss, formulate and implement climate change mitigation policies at the local level. Through looking at a number of concrete cases stemming from the CIDEA research project and spread over the continuum from local government initiated to citizen initiated, and from projects aimed at changing individual behaviour to projects involving bigger communities (housing association, villages, etc.), it will be argued that both from a governance perspective (CO2-reductions), as well as from a democratic perspective, citizen initiated projects involving communities of different kinds are clearly superior to for example government initiated campaigns aimed at the behaviour of individuals. This finding has clear policy-implications meaning that local climate change mitigation policies should be aimed at finding ways to support citizen initiated initiatives to a greater extent than is currently the case. Keywords: climate change mitigation, co-creation, behaviour, communities, citizen driven innovation.

Community Governance and Citizen-Driven Initiatives in Climate Change Mitigation : An Introduction / Jens Hoff and Quentin Gausset -- The Conundrum of Calculating Carbon Footprints / Bjarne W. Strobel, Anders Chr. Erichsen and Quentin Gausset -- Think Globally, Act Locally : Climate Change Mitigation and Citizen Participation / Jens Hoff -- On the Materialisation of Participation in a Municipality Near You / Irina Papuza -- Environmental Choices : Hypocrisy, Self-Contradictions and the Tyranny of Everyday Life / Quentin Gausset, Jens Hoff and Christian Scheele -- Energy Renovation Models in Private Households in Denmark / Lise Tjørring and Quentin Gausset -- Climate Ambassador Programmes in Municipalities : Encouraging climate change mitigation in public administrations and institutions / Michael Søogaard Jørgensen and Stine Rahbek Pedersen -- A local energy transition success story / Stefanie Baasch -- Incorporating Climate Change Mitigation Programmes in Local Administration : The Case of the CCP Programmes in Australia and New Zealand / Jens Hoff -- A Change of Just a Few Degrees : The possibilities and challenges of local American climate mitigation / Ebba Lisberg Jensen -- How Many Thick Television Sets Can There Be in the World? : Recycling workers and customers reflect on changing roles, recycling routines and resource flows / Ebba Lisberg Jensen -- Klimafesten : A Case Study of a Municipality's Intervention to Engage Citizens in Environmentally Sustainable Actions / Emilie Møllenbach and Kasper Hornbaek -- Computer Games and Social Innovation : Participation through Micro-contributions / Mette Wichmand

Major changes in citizenship and democracy have taken place in Scandinavia within the last two decades. Participation in conventional forms of politics has declined markedly, and the ability of institutions such as political parties and trade unions to deliver social mobility is being eroded. Instead, Scandinavians are turning towards single issue participation and 'small democracy' in the workplace or in public sector service institutions. The scenario is that of a 'spectator democracy' with engaged and conscious spectators who lack the long-term political commitment to engage actively in 'big democracy'. Also, Scandinavian citizenship is challenged by structural unemployment, EU membership, and immigration. This book deals with the details of these processes and in particular how they have affected political participation, identity and social polarization.