Seminar (CNSC): "Digital hybrid-democratic innovations: a tale of two cities"

Program

Abstract

The new millennium has brought about a new trend in governments and other political institutions for implementing digital platforms for citizen participation. In this study, we examine how two important FLOSS multipurpose participatory platforms -Decidim Barcelona and Decide Madrid (Consul)- have been applied by the two local governments through the hybridity of elements of voting with elements of deliberation and on-line and face-to-face forms. Is this hybridity configuring democratic innovations where talking and voting and on-line/off-line dimensions strengthen each other? Related to this, we analyse the importance of the political context and the evolution of citizen participation. The two platforms, and the participatory system associated with them, have common origins and features, but also important differences and evolution. With the help of digital platforms, the two cases have achieved historic milestones in the implementation of significant participatory processes for the first time and in opening deliberative spaces. However, there are significant differences that affect the interaction between participation, deliberation and voting, and the interest of the broader public.

Rosa Borge Bravo

Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of Law and Political Science (UOC). Leader of the CNSC consolidated research group at the IN3 (UOC). Her main areas of research are online deliberation and participatory processes, social networks and the use of digital platforms and social media by local governments and political parties.