Download - Östling - European University Institute
Fighting for your fundamental rights online and offline. How inclusive is
digital activism?La lluita pels teus drets bàsics online i
offline. Com és d’inclusiu l’activisme digital?
La lucha por tus derechos básicos online y offline. ¿Cuán inclusivo es el activismo
digital?
Alina Östling@AlinaOstling
conference / conferencia / conferència:
HOW INCLUSIVE IS DIGITAL ACTIVISM?
Alina Östling
My research• Online user surveys:–my own– Escher (2011), –Whyte et al. (2005)– Åström & Sedelius (2010)
Geographic coverage• Sweden• UK• France• Italy
N
S
Parliamentary monitoring
e-petition
Local/national projects
Example of a PM project
Inclusiveness?• Women:– 16-34 % parliamentary monitoring – 35-38% e-petitioning
Inclusiveness?Lower-educated: ~20 % fewer
Inclusiveness?Age:– high average: ~45– under-25: consistently
underrepresented
Inclusiveness?• Persons with disability:– Generally underrepresented, esp. in e-
petitioning
Experience & skills Already politically active Advanced digital skills
more than their co-nationals
In sum • ‘Reinforcement’ thesis: empowering
the already empowered• Less inclusive than other, offline,
forms contact media or politicians, demonstrate (Eurostat, ESS)
On the bright side…• Stimulus for learning & deeper
engagement• Those who DO engage:– Better understanding of politics (up to
80%)–More interested (up to 78%)
On the bright side…• Stimulus to participation• 40-50% never engaged online before• Up to 98% are more prone to participate in
the future
Conclusion• The hype about participation for
all and direct democracy is over• Digital activism projects are not
quick fixes, but complex processes of social change
Digital activism is:An opportunity: – to revive citizens’ trust in political
institutions; now very low (Rosanvallon 2008; Morlino 2009; Eurobarometer 2012)
– offering alternative means of participation
A threat: if equality is not addressed, an elite will dominate also online politics
Thank [email protected]
