Pojęcie cyberprzestrzeni w analizie politologicznej: Paradygmat wpływu nowego typu przestrzeni społecznej na demokratyczny system polityczny

The expansion of the Internet results in creation of new social spaces: the cyber- and the cybernetic space. Nowadays, a part of the political system structure functions in the above mentioned spaces. The paradigm proposed by author intends to explain how the cyberspace impacts democratic political system of the state. According to the proposed in the article definition, cyberspace is a computer-generated, non-physical social space, in which social processes and phenomenon can occure. In author‘s view, cyberspace should not be defined as a technology, specific tool, or artificial (virtual) reality, but as a social space, which is as real as the above mentioned phenomenon and as real as processes and related with them rules of law are. In author’s opinion, social procceses and phenomenon existing in the cyberspace, are equal with those which take place in the physical space. He argues that law enforcement related to the activities in cyber- and physical spaces has the same potential (strength) in both spaces. According to the presented paradigm, cyberspace has an impact on the political system of a democratic state. This influence causes changes in the quality of the running system. New components are created in the system’s structure, both in the government and beyond-government fields. The key system institutions change their functioning as they start their presence in new social spaces. All this means, that the political system evolves under the impact of the cyberspace