Virtual cities as a tool for democratization in developing countries

The purpose of this paper is to analyze a specific kind of ICT-related urban initiatives: the role of virtual cities in improving democratic participation in cities of the developing world. The Internet’s global reach is producing an increasing presence of virtual cities in the developing world. And it may be precisely in this type of context where virtual cities can make a difference regarding democratization and participation. The examination of the virtual cities phenomenon in Lima, Peru, is useful to acknowledge some interesting urban trends and to point up some of the difficulties and potentials linked to the use of virtual cities as a democratization tool. She is involved in research on the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the contemporary city since 1997. She is currently finishing her Ph.D. research on ICT related transformations in Latin American metropolises.