Breaking out of legacy mobilization networks: how the internet reaches and activates the politically disengaged

Abstract

This paper examines how digital media can activate political participation in areas traditionally excluded from social capital networks, focusing on Italy’s Five Star Movement (M5S). Using a granular dataset of Meetup.com events, census data, and electoral results between 2005 and 2013, the study explores the relationship between social capital, Internet-enabled mobilization, political participation and votes. The analysis identifies two distinct waves of grassroots mobilization. Initially, M5S activity relied on legacy mobilization networks, but after a surge in news media attention in 2012, meetups expanded into low-social capital areas, mobilizing a broader demographic. Results show that meetup activity in this second wave was positively associated with M5S electoral success and increased political discussion, particularly among disengaged voters disconnected from civic associations. The paper introduces the concept of Internet capital, highlighting its capacity to enable decentralized mobilization while bypassing geographic constraints. However, Internet networks lack social capital’s cohesive and reciprocal ties, requiring external validation–such as legacy media attention–to sustain political activation. These findings contribute to debates on the interplay between digital and legacy media, illustrating how Internet technologies reshape patterns of political participation, particularly in contexts of extreme political discontent and outsider mobilization.