Conclusions

Abstract

This chapter gathers the conclusions of this book. Starting from a structure of analysis inspired by the so-called “Coleman’s boat”, the authors show how the public opinion characteristic in the context of disintermediation is double-faced. On the one hand, the general disintermediation carries enormous potentialities related to the linking of citizens to the public debate. On the other hand, these potentialities coexist with processes that end with a public opinion that does not meet the expectations generated. This situation is, to a large extent, a consequence of the capacity of traditional mediators to adapt to the new communicative scenario without renouncing their preponderant and central position. This results in a relatively pessimistic outlook on the democratizing possibilities of digital political communication.