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Public Opinion in the Era of Big Data: A Content Analysis of Online Petition on Public Affairs
Tutik Rachmawati

Parahyangan Catholic University


Abstract

Public opinions and changes in public opinion is listed as part of external subsystem event that shapes the public policy process (Weible et.al, 2011). However, as an external event, public opinions alone will not be sufficient to lead to a policy change. Elite theory suggest that people are apathetic and ill-informed about public policy and that elites are those who shape mass opinion on policy questions rather than masses shape elite opinion (Dye, 2013). However, the onset of big data offers an immense opportunities for any citizen to voice their opinion. This can only mean that voicing opinion is no longer difficult task thanks to information & communication technology (ICT). This is resulted in the amount of public opinion that might have impact on policy changes. This paper aims at analyzing how public opinions through online petition informs or change public policies. Using data on online petition (mainly through change.org), this paper seek to understand how public opinion particularly on public affairs inform or change policy. From this analysis, conclusion can be drawn on whether the policy making process in Indonesia is significantly shaped by the masses (public) opinion or the elites opinions. The conclusion will reflect how strong big data in Indonesia is able to shaping policy making process (Dye, 2013). Considering the depth and the width of online petition through change.org, this paper will focus on online petition that falls under category of public affairs. Hence, it is most likely that the public opinions will interface with public complaints on public services. As argued by Mudacumura & Morcol (2014), public complaints are normally serve to monitor governments- service delivery, performance and to engage with public officials effectively. To provide stronger evidence on the role of public opinion, the result of the analysis of online petition will be compared to public complaints on public services found in other platforms such as LAPOR!, an online platform created for public complaints and aspirations channel in Indonesia. By comparing these two platforms, the paper will be able to identify whether public opinions or public complaint is better at informing policies.

Keywords: public opinion, public complaints, public policy

Topic: Digital Governance and Citizenship

Link: https://ifory.id/abstract/ncxfkWZQrwCt

Conference: The 1st International Conference on Democratisation in Southeast Asia (ICDeSA 2019)

Plain Format | Corresponding Author (Tutik Rachmawati)

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