Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
AMME IDARESI DERGISI, cilt.58, sa.2, ss.215-232, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)
The era of Big Data has significantly transformed the state structure and its mechanisms, particularly in relation to how power is exercised and how social governance is approached. While James C. Scott's analysis in the late 20th century critiqued the high modernist state for simplifying and standardizing systems for better manageability and predictability, today's dataist state operates with a radically different paradigm. This transformation is deeply influenced by the rise of distributed data systems that aim to understand the society, individuals, and reality through continuous streams of data. This paper examines the ways in which these data flows reshape the state's vision of governance, focusing on three primary behaviors: simplification, standardization, and homogenization in the context of the dataist state's management of data. Furthermore, it delves into the shift from traditional state control to a system of automated governance where algorithms and machine learning play key roles in decision-making processes. Special attention is given to the concept of "metis"-a form of knowledge deeply rooted in experience and tacit understanding-highlighting the limitations and exclusions that arise in the data-driven governance model. The paper also explores the ethical and social implications of the growing dependence on automated systems, such as the risks of reinforcing biases and exclusions through data processing, ultimately questioning the capacity of dataist states to capture the complexities of human existence. Through these inquiries, the paper presents a critical perspective on the evolving role of the state in an increasingly digital world.