2.0 Communication, power and politics

political representation

making citizens’ voices present in public policy making processes

formalistic representation

the institutional arrangements that precede and initiate representation

authorization and accountability

authorization

how a representative obtains their position

accountability

the ability of constituents to punish their representative for fialing to act in accordance with their wishes

descriptive representation

the extent to which a representative resembles those being represented

symbolic representation

the ways that a representative stands for the represented

substantive representation

the activity of representatives, the action taken on behalf of the represented

the representative claim

the idea of representation that someone stands for another. a subject stands for an object.

maker; makes the claim

object; what is being represented through the claim

audience; receives the claim and accepts or rejects them

populism

leader contrasts the elite and the people.

do populist leaders represent the people?

in favor: they draw attention to neglected issues, societal groups and viewpoints

against: they construct the people as one, thereby denying differences in society and politics

populist pragmatics

using disruptive behaviour and grassroots forms to perform authenticity and push against established norms. Undermines the legitimacy of institutional political communication.

populist ontology

symbolically enacting directness by constructing political elites as disconnected and their reality as false. replaces complex representative processes with a direct identification with the leader

populist epistemology

evaluating truth claims based on authenticity of the speaker and shared experience rather than facts or expertise.

power of social media

• concentrate public attention

• are primary news sources

• are key spaces for political mobilization

they can regulate what can be said, shape visibility and influence how citizens interact politically, all without transparency or accountability

neo-republican theory of democracy

freedom = non-domination

quasi-public power

private actors restrict people in their role as citizens

democratic public sphere

citizens debate ideas, public opinions are formed, political actors are challenged, new direction for politics and polic can develop

Mechanisms of domination

• speech regulation = content moderation, account suspension, removal of posts

• algorithmic control = what content people see, which voices become visible

counter social media’s power

• provide users with clear explanations when content is removed or restricted

• disclose how algorithms work and provide alternative systems

social media as democratizers

• easier to find like-minded people and build communities with them

• easier to share information

• much less costs

collective action

people join organized movements with leaders and collective identity

connective action

people connect through social media by individual, personalised micro-acts without the need of a new leader. low threshold, movements can be build quickly and include people who would otherwise not join.

public sphere

a realm of our social life where public opinion can be formed.

characteristics of a democratic public sphere

• media system: free, plural, not under state control

• access to official information

• political culture of free debate

• voice: equal access to the public sphere

• rights: constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties

media logic

media focus more on what sells rather than what matters

good governance

• ability to deliver

• responsiveness

• accountable to the public

input legitimacy

concerned with who gets to speak and whether diverse voices are represented

output legitimacy

whether the results of a policy process are viewed as desirable and appropriate by the public

trust

involving citizens in decision-making increases public confidence and builds consent for necessary social changes

how is democratic public sphere under duress in digital contexts

• algorithmic control

• arbitrary moderation

• echo chambers

how is democratic public sphere under duress in autocratic and hybrid regimes; shrinking civic space

• legislative barriers

• direct repression in Tanzania

• surveillance and censorship

how is democratic public sphere under duress in democratic contexts

• media logic

• ownership concentration

• news deserts

how is democratic public sphere under duress by information manipulation

• autocratic narratives

• industry obstruction

• astroturfing

how is democratic public sphere under duress by institutional constraints

• political rationality

• misuse of research

civic space

environment with legal, policy, institutional and practical conditions for non-governmental actors to access information, express themselves and participate in public life

freedom of association

enables individuals to form or join groups

freedom of expression

the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds without interference

freedom of peaceful assembly

allows individuals to gather to collectively express, promote and defend their common interests through meetings, demonstrations or protests

importance of civic space for policymaking

• enabling the expression of diverse interests

• redressing power imbalances

• enhancing policy robustness and legitimacy

relevance of rights to the public sphere

• enabling the trinity of civic freedoms

• safeguarding reasoned public discours

• protecting claims-making civil society

consequences of rights constrictions to the public sphere

• selective closing

• self-censorship

• loss of legitimacy

how civil society plays a key role

• advocacy and claims-making

• safeguarding democracy and public sphere

• service provision and social innovation

• inclusive policymakers through knowledge

• inclusive policymaking through knowledge

how states constrict civic space for CSOs

• legislative barriers

• restricting foreign funding

• surveillance and physical harassment

• stigmatization and negative labelling

• selective closing and co-optation

consequences of constricting civic space for CSOs

• mission drift and depoliticization

• the chilling effect

• organizational decline or closure

• loss of inclusive policymaking

• fragmented civil society

• democratic backsliding

how civil society can respond to constrictions

• compliance and tactical concession

• navigation and strategic reframing

• resistance and outside advocacy

• organizational adaptation

• community-based resilience