Mapping a Better World: A Journey

Abstract

This introduction presents data activism as new social practices rooted in technology, which take a critical view towards datafication and use it politically for meaning-making, coordination and change. It offers a conceptual toolkit, including definitions of big data in light of activism. It contains a ‘route map’ explaining the book’s structure, with presentations of Chapter 2, dedicated to the social uses of the data infrastructure; Chapter 3, tackling proactive data activism from different angles and providing taxonomies of activists; Chapter 4, focused on the case study; and Chapter 5, offering brief conclusions. The Ushahidi platform illustrates how organisations use the data infrastructure to understand complexity and generate solutions. A methodological note clarifies how empirical and participant observation, qualitative interviewing and the case study are employed.