Refiguring Democracy: The Spanish Political Laboratory

Description

Spain has become a remarkable democratic laboratory in which millions of citizens are experimenting with new forms of political expression. This book examines the dynamics of this political laboratory, showing that the upheavals it is experiencing are likely in the near future to affect democracies elsewhere in the world. Examining the new means of participation that were established in fields where digital communication tools enabled the launch of novel dynamics of political action, the reader will gain access to a comprehensive analysis of the reshaping and mutation process that has affected fields such as activism, political parties and political participation. Using a case study of the Spain between 2011 and 2015, the book focuses on the changes that have taken place in politics and communication in Spain, paying particular attention to the 15M movement and its disruptive, innovative strength in all matters related to politics and communication. The chapters cover political repertoires and the hybridization of horizontal and vertical political logics; the appearance of new political parties; the establishment of monitoring mechanisms as an essential means of political expression and participation; and the subversion of rationality across media as a product of the communication strategies implemented by online political activism. Showing that Spain is not just at the forefront of democratic innovation, but that it is a political laboratory in which trials are taking place that tell us much about the future of democracy everywhere, this book will be of great use to scholars of political theory, democracy and philosophy. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of tables Foreword Introduction 1. The transformation of political logics: beyond the ‘horizontal’ and the ‘vertical’? ‘Vertical’ versus ‘horizontal’ Towards a differentiation of the 15M political repertoire The 15M political repertoire and the vertical–horizontal theoretical axis Activists’ responses to the vertical–horizontal axis Towards a characterisation of 15M Conclusions Notes 2. The emergence of new political parties From street protests to taking over the institutions The new parties and digital media The impact of the new parties on party-based democracy Conclusions Notes 3. The appearance of monitoring as an emerging political dynamic Monitory democracy: political transformation in communication-saturated societies Three main fields of monitoring: governmental, civic and shared Typology of civic monitoring Conclusions Notes 4. Two-way street mediatisation of politics or overturn? The social media communication models of 15M and Podemos Social media and mainstream media in today’s political communication Media protagonism and the mediatisation of politics The 15M communication model: the relationship between online political activism and the mainstream media Podemos’s communication model: taking on the media without abandoning the networks Conclusions: democratic innovations and contributions from the field of political communication Notes Conclusions: the Spanish political laboratory in action Monitory democracy Post-representation Looking to the future Note References Index