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Activity Funded

Encostados à parede: um ensaio sobre cidadania digital e convivialidade em Portugal

Against the Wall: an essay on digital citizenship and conviviality in Portugal

Reference
2024.16346.PEX
Project Start Date
2026-02-01
Project End Date
2027-07-31
Principal Investigator
Scientific Area
Social sciences
Funding Program
Concurso para Projetos de Investigação de caráter Exploratório em Todos os Domínios Científicos 2024

Abstract

Citizenship is often conceptualized as a static legal status, a set of rights and duties assigned to individuals by the nation-state. However, recent scholarship has emphasized the dialectical relationship between inclusion and exclusion at the heart of citizenship (Barrios Aquino, 2022). This research challenges traditional binary categories—migrant/citizen, self/other, legal/illegal—by focusing on the everyday practices of conviviality that shape our democracies. It aims to redefine citizenship beyond the legal framework, incorporating its cultural and digital manifestations and emphasizing participation in contemporary society. This project seeks to develop an innovative understanding of citizenship that moves beyond territorial and legal constraints by exploring how digital platforms mediate and transform civic engagement. It aims to map the discourses and lived experiences of citizenship mainly in Arroios (Lisbon), but also in Stockwell (London), expanding the concept to incorporate media and digital dynamics. Another key objective is to identify spaces of negotiation and opinion formation, both physical and digital, within the networked society, taking into account the impacts of datafication and platformization. Additionally, the project will promote digital literacy for citizenship by equipping diverse social actors with the skills necessary for expression, negotiation, and participation in public spaces. The study employs a qualitative and mixed-method approach. Discourse and media analysis will examine narratives on citizenship in both mainstream and alternative media, including newspapers, blogs, podcasts, and social media. Ethnographic fieldwork will involve observing civic practices in both digital and public spaces, complemented by informal interviews with social and educational associations and local authorities. Community engagement initiatives will be central to this research, including the organization of conferences, round tables, and digital platforms designed to facilitate public debate and disseminate findings. Furthermore, training and literacy programs will be developed to enhance digital literacy and equip individuals with the necessary skills to navigate the contemporary civic sphere. The urgency of this research lies in the global rise of exclusionary nationalist discourses, which construct rigid definitions of belonging and exclude vulnerable populations. As citizenship is increasingly mediatized and digitalized, it is critical to examine how individuals and communities engage also with digital spaces. By including how citizenship is negotiated and represented in digital arenas, this research offers a model for fostering more inclusive public participation. The project’s innovative approach integrates cultural and communication studies with digital humanities, providing an interdisciplinary framework to analyze citizenship beyond traditional legal structures. Unlike existing studies that focus exclusively on migration policies or digital literacy as separate domains, this research bridges the two, offering practical tools to counter exclusion and foster a broader sense of belonging. This project will generate valuable insights into the dynamics of digital citizenship and civic engagement, contributing to academic discourse while offering real-world applications. The anticipated outcomes include a comprehensive analysis of digital citizenship discourses in Arroios and Stockwell, along with the identification of key spaces and flows of civic negotiation and engagement in the digital public sphere. The research will also enhance digital literacy and media skills within local communities, ensuring more equitable participation. Furthermore, it will contribute to the development of policy recommendations and training programs that support digital inclusion efforts. To facilitate knowledge exchange and public awareness, the project will also create educational materials and online resources. The impact of this research extends beyond academia, addressing urgent social issues such as xenophobia, digital inequality, and social exclusion. It will provide policymakers, educators, and community leaders with actionable strategies to foster inclusive, democratic participation in the digital age. This research challenges conventional understandings of citizenship by demonstrating how digital environments serve as critical arenas for negotiation, participation, and identity formation. By focusing on everyday digital interactions and their implications for civic life, this project proposes a transformative framework for rethinking citizenship in a networked world. The findings will contribute not only to scholarly debates but also to tangible policy and social interventions that empower communities to engage more fully in democratic processes. Ultimately, this work seeks to build a model of citizenship that is dynamic, inclusive, and responsive to the complexities of contemporary society.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Letras (ULISBOA FLUL)

Other Institutions

  • University of Portsmouth (Univ. Portsmouth)

Funding 45.969,53 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

45.969,53 €