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 you!alina.ostling@eui.eu