Business Meeting

Panels

Schedule

15-07-2021 10:00 UTC (1 hour 45 minutes) "A"

Discussants

Dr. Wolf J. Schünemann Germany

Description

The climate of mistrust towards politics and the crisis of legitimacy of both the traditional actors of representation and the different forms of political participation are elements widely present in the public debate and in contemporary political science literature. However, in the last two decades there have been several experiments and innovations, both in the way in which public sector institutions relate to the private sector and to citizens in general, and (more rarely) show how the internal decision-making processes of public administration are designed and organized. If the vision of open government has given these experiments a conceptual propulsion, the many forms of digital innovation have in many cases provided tools and practical applications with increasing potential. From an initial phase of enthusiasm and techno-optimism we have gradually passed to a period of more mature and disenchanted awareness of the limits and risks of an innovation that is not adequately conceived in terms of democratic values and quality of procedures.
This panel is aimed at promoting a reflection on the relevance of concrete open government experiments and on technological innovations that allow the rethinking of government processes and the relationship between the public sector, private subjects and citizens. A focus of interest, in this regard, is represented by smart cities and artificial intelligence, the use of open data and big data in the various phases of the policy cycle, the crowd law processes, gamification, portals of transparency, etc. This panel encourages a critical discussion on the impact of these initiatives in terms of the quality of democracy, even in a comparative perspective. Particular emphasis will be given to contributions able to highlight the relationship between the theory of democratic innovation and concrete practices, the impact and limits of such experiences, through specific case studies or in a comparative framework.

 

Digital Revolution and Democracies: Case Studies of Turkey, Hungary and India

Author: Mr. Edwin Joy India

The Democratic Question in Digital Terms: Reconstructing Political Imaginaries of Civic Tech Activists

Author: Mr. Sebastian Berg Germany

Co-Author(s): Mr. Daniel Staemmler Germany, Mr. Daniel Staemmler Germany

Usages of an E-participation Platform by French Legislators: The Resilience of Representative Democracy?

Author: Dr. Samuel Defacqz Belgium

Co-Author(s): Dr. Claire Dupuy Belgium

 

Schedule

14-07-2021 10:00 UTC (1 hour 45 minutes) "A"

 

Discussants

Dr. Patricia Correa United Kingdom

Description

Several parties in Europe and around the world have increasingly used digital tools such as online platforms for internal decision-making, funding, communication and membership mobilization. Parties, both traditional and digital native, seem to have started a process of digitalization of their organizational structures (Gerbaudo 2018). From the Pirate Parties in Northern Europe to Podemos in Spain, La France Insoumise in France and the Five Stars Movement in Italy, over the past decade many parties have adopted participation platforms such as LiquidFeedback, Agir, Rousseau, and Plaza Podemos, allowing party members and supporters to participate directly in the drafting of the electoral manifesto and of policy proposals, in selecting party internal and electoral mandates via online votes, and to vote on strategic party decisions. So far, most of the academic attention has been focused on the impact of the use of digital technologies on party competition and campaigning, while the intra-organizational dimensions have been somewhat under-researched (Bennett, Segerberg and Knüpfer, 2018). Moreover, the literature on traditional parties and ICTs has somewhat been attracting less attention (della Porta et al., 2017; Bennet et al., 2017; Gerbaudo, 2018; Lioy et al 2019). The main purpose of this panel is to analyse how both mainstream and new parties are building their e-platforms and transitioning from traditional (offline) organizations into the digital world. To this purpose, three main sets of research questions will be discussed in this panel. First, the panel will explore how the e-platforms are regulated and which are the main issues in guaranteeing their security. The second set of questions refers to which are the main affordances allowed by the e-patform to the party members and how these e-platforms are actually used or perceived as an effective instrument of political participation. The third set of questions is related to the main consequences of these digitalization processes, both for party organizational models and electoral campaign potential. Papers cover single empirical in-depth case studies on how ICTs are shaping parties’ main intra-organizational dimensions (communication, deliberation, decision making, membership, etc.), but also papers focusing on comparative case studies and more theoretically oriented papers.

Innovation Setbacks in Digital IPD: The Case of Podemos

Author: Mr. Marco Meloni Portugal

Co-Author(s): Dr. Fabio Lupato García Spain

Is Gamification the Road toward More Inclusive Internal Party Democracy? An Analysis of the First Gamified Candidate-Selection Procedure

Author: Dr. Cecilia Biancalana Switzerland

Co-Author(s): Dr. Davide Vittori Italy

Open Parliament: Tools for Democratic Trust

Author: Mrs. Marina Cueto Spain

Co-Author(s): Mr. Miguel Angel Gonzalo Spain

Political Parties and Their Online Platforms: User Friendly and Secure, or Just Nice to Look At?

Author: Dr. Jasmin Fitzpatrick Germany

Co-Author(s): Dr. Gefion Thuermer United Kingdom

 

Schedule

15-07-2021 10:00 UTC (1 hour 45 minutes) "A"

 

Discussants

Dr. Giulia Sandri France

Description

Several parties in Europe and around the world have increasingly used digital tools such as online platforms for internal decision-making, funding, communication and membership mobilization. Parties, both traditional and digital native, seem to have started a process of digitalization of their organizational structures (Gerbaudo 2018). From the Pirate Parties in Northern Europe to Podemos in Spain, La France Insoumise in France and the Five Stars Movement in Italy, over the past decade many parties have adopted participation platforms such as LiquidFeedback, Agir, Rousseau, and Plaza Podemos, allowing party members and supporters to participate directly in the drafting of the electoral manifesto and of policy proposals, in selecting party internal and electoral mandates via online votes, and to vote on strategic party decisions. So far, most of the academic attention has been focused on the impact of the use of digital technologies on party competition and campaigning, while the intra-organizational dimensions have been somewhat under-researched ( Margetts, 2006; Ward and Gibson, 2009; Hartleb, 2013; Bennett, Segerberg and Knüpfer, 2018). Moreover, the literature on traditional parties and ICTs has somewhat been attracting less attention (della Porta et al., 2017; Bennet et al., 2017; Gerbaudo, 2018; Lioy et al 2019). The main purpose of this panel is to analyse how both mainstream and new parties are building their e-platforms and transitioning from traditional (offline) organizations into the digital world. To this purpose, three main sets of research questions will be discussed in this panel. First, the panel will explore how the e-platforms are regulated and which are the main issues in guaranteeing their security. The second set of questions refers to which are the main affordances allowed by the e-patform to the party members and how these e-platforms are actually used or perceived as an effective instrument of political participation. The third set of questions is related to the main consequences of these digitalization processes, both for party organizational models and electoral campaign potential. Papers cover single empirical in-depth case studies on how ICTs are shaping parties’ main intra-organizational dimensions (communication, deliberation, decision making, membership, etc.), but also papers focusing on comparative case studies and more theoretically oriented papers.

Anti-Party Partisans? A Conceptualization of the Organizational Tensions within Digital Parties: The Case of La France Insoumise

Author: Mr. Marco Guglielmo United Kingdom

E-voting and the Regulation of Platform Politics in European Parties

Author: Dr. Giulia Sandri France

Co-Author(s): Dr. Felix-Christopher von Nostitz France

E-Voting in Spanish Political Parties

Author: Dr. Oscar Barbera Spain

Co-Author(s): Dr. Jordi Barrat Spain

The ‘Geometry’ of Representation in the Five Star Movement: Exploring the Linkage between Party Manifesto, Elected Representatives and Members

Author: Dr. Davide Vittori Italy

Co-Author(s): Prof. Lorenzo Mosca Italy, Miss Francesca Feo Italy

Unified Campaigns or Disruptive Diversity of Opinions? How Coordinated Online Campaigns Polarize Partisans

Author: Dr. Isabelle Borucki Germany

Co-Author(s): Ms. Stine Ziegler Germany, Dr. Zachary Greene United Kingdom

 

Schedule

10-07-2021 21:00 UTC (1 hour 45 minutes) "D"

 

Discussants

Prof. Karen Mossberger United States 

Dr. Domagoj Bebić Croatia

Description

Cities worldwide have experimented with new applications of technology for digital government and public policy objectives. Advances in technology, including artificial intelligence, challenge cities to incorporate new applications, and at the same time, to cope with new issues of privacy and security introduced by these technologies. This panel invites research from a diversity of countries, methods, and perspectives regarding the development of smart cities in practice.

Electronic Democracy in a Large City Government: An Assessment

Author: Prof. Roberto Barbeito Spain

Co-Author(s): Prof. ANgel Iglesias Spain

Participation Initiatives in Smart City Measurement Frameworks

Author: Miss Manuella Maia Ribeiro Brazil

Co-Author(s): Ms. Javiera Fernanda Medina Macaya Brazil

Smart Transport in Comparative Perspective

Author: Mr. Aleksandar Kovacevic Serbia

The Governance of AI and Through AI: Case Histories from Europe

Author: Dr. Donatella Selva Italy

Co-Author(s): Dr. Emiliana De Blasio Italy

 

Schedule

10-07-2021 13:30 UTC (1 hour 45 minutes) "C"

Discussants

Dr. Andrew Matsiko Uganda

Description

Politics in the digital era faces both opportunities and challenges in the changing environment. Increasingly, digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) challenges the traditional assumptions held about democratic processes such as civic participation and engagement, accountability, transparency, mobilization, power acquisition and maintenance, among others. As a result, ICTs have created an unprecedented expansion of democratic innovative spaces for participation in electoral democracy and democratic governance. These developments call for requisite and rigorous academic scrutiny to shape understanding of new emerging digital democratic participation spaces and political dynamics. This is because different innovative democratic spaces and connections are made and opinion exchanged - and possible to share views, as well as coordinating political discourse and action using digital innovations. Given the fact that widespread use and access to digital ICTs innovated spaces for participation and engagement at local and national levels, this panel provides research findings and theoretical analysis addressing (though not exclusively) the use of digital spaces and democratic innovations. Given the fact that widespread use and access to ICTs created spaces for participation – digitalization has impact on governments, institutions and citizens etc. – and now we have been witnessing increasingly new trends in institutionalizing technology as a new form of participation, inclusion, responsiveness, accountability, interaction and information sharing in real-time. Valuable discussion and insights on this digital environment will make contributions in mapping emerging digital democratic spaces, and explore overwhelming outcomes of digital spaces. So how emerging democratic innovations enhance and/or hinder participation? To what extent digital democratic spaces is fostering participation in democracy and democratic governance?

Digital Election Monitoring in Zimbabwe 2008 Elections: A Viable or Worst?

Author: Miss Blessmore Nhikiti Germany

Mainstream Presence amidst Digital Public Disengagement? A Multimethod Analysis of Online Citizen Engagement among Nigeria’s Federal Agencies

Author: Mr. Gbenga Bayewu Nigeria

Co-Author(s): Mr. Omomayowa Abati Nigeria , Mr. Temitayo Odeyemi Nigeria

The Effects of Digital Information on Policy Innovation and Diffusion

Author: Dr. Scott LaCombe United States

Co-Author(s): Dr. Caroline Tolbert United States

                             Prof. Karen Mossberger United States 

Transparent Spending in Health Care: Enhancing Efficient Health Care by Opening Data on Diabetes Treatment

Author: Mrs. Mara Mendes Germany

 

Schedule

11-07-2021 10:00 UTC (1 hour 45 minutes) "A"

 

Discussants

Prof. Claudia Ritzi Germany

Description

The digital transformation seems to have transformed political processes of opinion-building across societies at a tremendous speed and dynamic. While the most salient phenomena of political communication in a digitally transformed public sphere (echo chambers, social bots, disinformation etc.) have been intensely discussed in recent years, the day-to-day practices of and general implications for opinion building require further research. In times of the crisis of representation, new digital forms of campaigning, mobilization and responsiveness emerge. They call for a revision of widely shared assumptions on the functioning of the political and communicative process. Therefore, the open panel calls for theoretical and/or empirical contributions to this fledgling field of research. Possible research questions are:
• Which roles do different actor groups (representative politicians, parties, classical media, so-cial media, NGOs, activist groupings, private companies etc.) play in opinion-building processes?
• How is political leadership transformed? Do the new dynamics foster nationalism? Where/ Under which circumstances do opinion-building-processes transcend national borders?
• How are audiences transformed? Which effects do these transformations have for opinion-building? Which media and communication techniques play a special role for these transformations? How do digital infrastructures shape opinion-building?
• Are groups that were previously marginalized now included into opinion-building – either through active participation or passive observation via digital tools?
• Which differences and similarities can be identified in comparative analyses across periods of time, political issues, countries or other levels of governance, regime types etc.?

Analyzing Discourses on Solidarity in Times of Crisis

Author: Ms. Franziska Lena Ziegler Germany

Co-Author(s): Prof. Marianne Kneuer Germany

Inner-Party Opinion-Formation and Communication in Times of Social Media

Author: Mr. Mario Datts Germany

Co-Author(s): Mrs. Katharina Gerl Germany

Narcotizing Dysfunction: A Strategy for Generating Political Apathy in Contemporary Politics?

Author: Mr. Rolf Nijmeijer Italy

Populist Publics, Populist Leaders, and Populist Influencers: Constructions of Drugs and the Government Opposition in Duterte’s Philippines through Social Media

Author: Mr. Aaron Abel Mallari Philippines

 

Schedule

11-07-2021 10:00 UTC (1 hour 45 minutes) "A"

 

Discussants

Dr. Laura Elena Sibinescu Finland 

Description

Social media and other platforms for participation have transformed many aspects of politics, providing a new form of outreach to voters, a space for citizen participation, and a venue to both create and assess public opinion. In contrast with traditional media, online outlets offer a stage that is global as well as national. It provides a haven for hate speech and misinformation as well as a place to exercise democratic deliberation. This panel considers social media use and other participatory platforms across countries and contexts, demonstrating both opportunities and challenges for democratic practice.

Civic Participation on Online Neighborhood Platforms

Author: Dr. Paula Nitschke Germany

Ethno-Nationalist Actions in Social Media Networks: Acting Groups and Hate Speech in Portugal

Author: Dr. Danielle Sanches Brazil

Co-Author(s): Dr. Renato Rocha Souza Austria

Politics in Viral Media Environment: Perception of the Croatian President in Croatian and British Media during 2018 FIFA World Cup

Author: Dr. Domagoj Bebić Croatia

The Digital Divide

Author: Mr. Pranjal Ray India