Big data governance and representative democracy

Abstract

The “big data” phenomenon turns out to have a significant impact on the political-institutional sphere and on traditional channels of political representation. The latest U.S. presidential election is a clear proof. The electoral campaign which allowed Trump to get to the Presidency is just the last example showing how the use of data is changing the relationship between citizens and institutions. It would be wrong, however, thinking that the mentioned phenomenon is limited to the U.S. reality. Big data, as has been highlighted in the literature, differ from traditional data (or small data) for three main characteristics, the so-called 3Vs: volume, velocity and variety. The impact on the political institutions side is considerable, and is determined above all by the strong predictive capacity as a typical feature of big data utilization. Processing large amount of data, ends up in a close and reliable picture of what is going to happen, where the more traditional small data have always been characterized by inaccuracy and disorder. This is what data mining (i.e. the set of techniques and methodologies aimed at extracting information from large amounts of data) apply for. In a phase where the political representation circuit seems to be afflicted by an irreversible crisis, big data risks to transfigure the relationship between citizens and institutions and it is worth of a deep analysis.

Summary:
1. Big data and democracy. – 2. The multi-functionality of big data. – 3. Big data, populismo and representative democracy.