Technology enables practical democracy

Panelist Pablo SotoExternal link, a councillor for citizen participation in the city of Madrid, said that technology was crucial to Spain’s 15M anti-austerity movement since it allowed for fast organization and mobilization. But it didn’t have to be fancy.

Technology has become crucial to social movements but it doesn't have to be fancy, says #globfor16External link panel. https://t.co/V4TC7iGSbXExternal link pic.twitter.com/V1q0flotmjExternal link

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Technology such as Facebook or even Google Docs allowed movement organizers to apply what Soto called “swarm logic” – going to a specific place to address a specific problem, such as evictions that were taking place all over Spain which he says members of 15M were able to stop with their presence.

Paul Jacob, speaking from his experience External linkin the United States, said that there are certain issues that can only be addressed through direct democracy, such as term limits for politicians, which he has been fighting for for a long time.

“This was a movement with tremendous public support but the possibilities were somewhat limited because politicians hated it,” he said. 

But in all direct democracy issues, the result is what people care about, not the process, Jacob said. 

“They don’t so much think of democracy as a wonderful process, but that democracy might allow me to get something.”

That means technology has become more important than ever in mobilizing people who are busier and don’t have time to take on leadership roles or physically attend meetings, Jacob points out.