Platform Politics in Europe | Platform Politics in Europe: Bridging Gaps between Digital Activism and Digital Democracy at the Close of the Long 2010s — Introduction

Abstract

This introduction provides an overview of the special issue on digital activism and digital democracy. In particular, it focuses on the most recent empirical and theoretical development in the field. It argues that, albeit similar, the logic between online and offline mobilizations is different; more important, it argues that digital platforms do not organize movements’ demands neutrally. In reviewing the content of the six contributions of the special issues, it highlights the strengths and the shortcomings of both digital mobilizations and digital platforms. Overall, it presents a multifaceted representation of the implications of platform politics, advancing the debate on digital politics on several productive avenues of inquiry.