BEYOND COMMERCIAL PLATFORMS: THREE MODELS FOR DIGITAL POLITICS FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Abstract

This article explores possibilities of digital participation which are autonomous from large commercial platforms. Firstly, it questions the democratic value of the current digital environment dominated by big tech in an era marked by individualism and depoliticization. Secondly, three models of democratic participation through alternative platforms in opposition to commercial ones are analysed. The first is the representative model, which seeks to innovate parties through technology. The second is the
participatory model, which emphasises the direct engagement of citizens through civic platforms. The third is the deliberative model, which proposes a decision-making process based on a representative random sample, which activates an inclusive deliberation process also using ICTs. In conclusion, the article discusses, through mental examples, the challenges of integrating these models into a system that responds to the current needs of democracy.

Keywords

digital media

democracy

participation

platforms

deliberation

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