Abstract
Do digitally accessible, not to mention machine-readable data sources, truly democratise the potential for social scientists to master the craft of foretelling? Or are they likely to create new constraints? We study the connections between the political economy of the state and data, and identify overlaps in the development of both these artefacts in the digital era of “big data”, to show that the Indian experience has been one of deep politicisation. This stance of taking the politics of data to be central can enrich not just our cultures of forecasting but could also help us respond more effectively as a society. Themes such as politics of big data could thus guide us along with ideals of openness and should be incorporated into the framework of social science.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Social Scientists in the Civic Space |
| Subtitle of host publication | Ethical Perspectives on Democratic Involvement |
| Publisher | Taylor and Francis |
| Pages | 192-204 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781040254066 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781032729084 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2024 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2025 selection and editorial matter, Arundhati Virmani, Jean Boutier, and Manohar Kumar; individual chapters, the contributors.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Social Sciences