The Open Data Movement: Young Activists between Data Disclosure and Digital Reputation

Authors

  • Davide Arcidiacono University “Cattolica del Sacro Cuore” of Milan
  • Giuseppe Reale University of Catania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1285/i20356609v9i3p918

Keywords:

digital activism, openness, civic engagement, data reuse, collaborative production

Abstract

Young citizens show an increasing interest for direct democracy tools and for the building of a new relationship with public administration through the use of digital platforms. The Open Data issue is part of this transformation. The paper analyzes the Open Data issue from the perspective of a spontaneous and informal group of digital activists with the aim of promoting data disclosure. The study is focused mainly on the case of a specific local movement, named Open Data Sicilia (ODS), combining traditional ethnographic observation with an ethnographic approach. The aim of the study is to detect the social pro-file of the Open Data movement activists, understanding how is it organized their network, what are the common purposes and solidarity models embodied by this type of movement, what are the resources mo-bilized and their strategies between on-line and off-line. The ODS case appears interesting for its evolu-tion, its strategy and organizational structure: an elitist and technocratic movement that aspires to a broad constituency. It is an expressive or a reformist movement, rather than an anti-system actor, with features that are similar to a lobby. The case study also shows all the typical characteristics of digital activism, with its fluid boundaries between ethical inspiration of civic engagement and individual interests

Author Biographies

Davide Arcidiacono, University “Cattolica del Sacro Cuore” of Milan

Davide Arcidiacono: Ph.D. in Sociology and Researcher in Economic Sociology at the Catholic University of Milan. He works on topics like political consumerism and social innovation. Recently, he has focused his attention on the sharing economy and the peer2peer production. He is actually a member of the scientific committee of CO-HUB Milano, a member of the research staff of TRAIL-LAB (Transformative Actions Interdisciplinary Laboratory) and one of the organizers of Sharitaly, the biggest convention about the collaborative economy. Among his recent publications: Il tempo nell’economia fondamentale tra sharing economy e personal branding: il caso del Time Banking on line, in “Sociologia del Lavoro”, n 142, 2016; Consumatori Attivi. Scelte d’acquisto e partecipazione per una nuova etica economica, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2013.

Giuseppe Reale, University of Catania

Giuseppe Reale: Ph.D. student in “Political Sciences” at the University of Catania (Italy) and he was visiting student at KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) in Stockholm. He is working on the topic of Open Government and Open Data. He conducted several laboratory on "Open Data and Evaluation" and “Open Data and Communication in public administration” at the University of Catania and he is the copy-editor of the scientific journal “RIV-Rassegna Italiana di Valutazione”. He collaborates with ISVI (Istituto di Formazione e Ricerca sui Problemi Sociali dello Sviluppo) and he was recognized reviewer for the GovLab and Omidyar Network “Open Data Impact” Project.

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Published

19-01-2017

Issue

Vol 9, No. 3 (2016). Special Issue: Youth and the Reinvention of Politics

Section

Special Issue

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