This session will explore issues related to the intersection of the open movement with people, power and politics.
Data, information, knowledge is created in a political environment where power dynamics dictate who is/is not included in the creation process. Unless we consider who is involved in knowledge construction we run the risk of simply entrenching existing power structures. If open data is dominated by data produced in the Global North what chance do we have in redressing the balance of power for an equitable world?
At the same time, the political arena also offers opportunities to use data and information to deliver change, and challenges to doing so effectively. How can we use open data to positively influence politics and governance? And how can we avoid the pitfalls?
The session will unpack these issues, focussing on the following: What do we mean by inclusion and diversity? How are different sources of knowledge valued? Are we empowering the powerful? What are the political threats to open initiatives, and how can we address them? What are the political levers we can use to deliver change?
Session hashtag: #OKFestPower
This session was co-created by the
Open Development Open Knowledge Working Group. This session remains editorially independent as it was put together in consultation with the Programme Team following the same guidelines as for other sessions at the festival.
This year, Making All Voices Count are supporting this session and we’re grateful to them for making this conversation possible at the festival. This session remains editorially independent as it was put together in consultation with the Programme Team following the same guidelines as for other sessions at the festival. For more details about programme sponsors see our Sponsors page.
