Schwarmdemokratie

The swarm has become one of the most powerful and controversial political symbols of today's network society. Web 2.0 and social media enable citizens to unfold political emergence in form of human swarms. On the one hand, the liberal state has to embrace the democratic potential of these swarms to keep in touch with (digital) communication of society. On the other though, the state has to protect democratic institutions, such as parliament and the free mandate, against attacks from swarms. By establishing swarm contacts, the liberal state hat to transform itself - at least partly - into a swarm democracy.