by PublicABCP
Translated and reviewed by Matheus Lucas Hebling
Algorithmic Institutionalism: The Changing Rules of Social and Political Life offers a groundbreaking analysis by framing algorithms as institutions that shape decisions and power relations in contemporary society. Written by professors Ricardo Fabrino Mendonça (UFMG), Fernando Filgueiras (UFG), and Virgílio Almeida (UFMG), the book examines the political and social impacts of algorithmic systems in domains such as public security, government, and recommendation platforms. Published by Oxford University Press, the work was awarded the 2024 Victor Nunes Leal Prize.
Rooted in the theoretical framework of neo-institutionalism, the book proposes a fresh lens to understand how algorithms function as governing structures. The central concept of algorithmic institutions helps make sense of how these technologies establish norms, regulate behavior, and produce new dynamics of power. The authors introduce an analytical framework that takes into account design, norms, discourses, and the power relations embedded in algorithmic systems.
The core chapters apply this framework to three case studies: the use of algorithms in security systems, the platformization of government, and recommendation algorithms. These cases demonstrate how algorithmic systems shape patterns of behavior and decision-making across various social settings, highlighting both the opportunities and risks they pose. Each example reveals the deep institutional effects of algorithm adoption in public and private governance.
In its final chapter, the book raises a crucial question about the intersection of algorithms and democracy. The authors critically examine the rise of epistocratic perspectives—where decisions are made based on technical expertise rather than democratic deliberation—and argue for the urgent need to democratize these emerging institutions. As algorithmic decision-making expands globally, they emphasize the importance of embedding democratic values in these processes to ensure their legitimacy and accountability.
Algorithmic Institutionalism urges readers to recognize algorithms not as neutral tools, but as institutional actors actively shaping the rules of social and political life. It challenges researchers and civil society alike to reflect on the implications of algorithmic governance for democracy and calls for deeper engagement with the politics of technology in our digital era.
About the Authors
Ricardo Fabrino Mendonça is a professor of Political Science at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), where he coordinates the Margem Research Group on Democracy and Justice. He serves on the management board of Brazil’s National Institute for Digital Democracy and is an editor of Compolítica journal. He has held visiting positions at the University of California Irvine, the Australian National University, the University of Canberra, and Newcastle University.
Fernando Filgueiras is a professor of Social Sciences at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) and teaches in the Graduate Program in Political Science and International Relations. He is a CNPq Productivity Fellow and also teaches in the professional doctoral program in Public Policy at Brazil’s National School of Public Administration (ENAP).
Virgílio Almeida is Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at UFMG. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), and the National Academy of Engineering (ANE). Former head of the Computer Science Department at UFMG, he is also an affiliated professor at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.
Publication Details
Title: Algorithmic Institutionalism: The Changing Rules of Social and Political Life
Authors: Ricardo Fabrino Mendonça, Fernando Filgueiras, and Virgílio Almeida
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Year: 2023
ISBN: 978-0192870070
Available at: Oxford University Press
