Empowering Political Participation through Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

Technologies based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) can radically change the existing political paradigm, empowering more diffused forms of political participation beyond elections – especially in the emergent worldwide context of unrestrictedly disclosing governmental data online. The objective of this research is to investigate how the civil society can use AI-based technologies to empower political participation. A sample of 721 publications was covered through a combination of bibliometric analysis and systematic review, which revealed the characteristics and the nascent state of literature. This was followed by an exploratory Case Study, conducted through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and supplemented by secondary materials. Their content was extensively and systematically analysed through textual coding. We depicted a framework on how the civil society can use AI-based technologies to nurture diffused political participation. This framework scrutinizes six focal areas, their respective dominant traits and descriptive features, aiming at contributing to guide academic studies and political endeavours.