Navigating the Future of Democracy. Conclusive Reflections on Sciences Po’s “Digital Democracy” Course

As the Autumn Semester of 2022–2023 at Sciences Po draws to a close, it’s a moment of reflection and celebration with the students involved in the course “Digital Democracy and Public Spaces”; and also a perfect opportunity to look back at the learnings and exercises that guided them to the understanding of the digital democracy landscape.

The course has been a journey of discovery and insight. I delved with students into the transformative power of technology in reshaping democratic processes and public engagement.

These are my 3Key Highlights of the Course:

1. The course delved into how technology is revolutionizing democratic decision-making, enhancing civic participation, and reshaping public spaces. In particular, we critically examined the role of media and communication in this transformation.

• For instance, we explored how social media platforms have become pivotal in political campaigns and public discourse. According to a Pew Research Center study, 71% of American adults use social media, with platforms like Facebook and Twitter playing a significant role in shaping political opinions and mobilization.
• Additionally, the course scrutinized the influence of digital media on public opinion, highlighting the findings from the Reuters Institute Digital News Report, which revealed that 55% of global respondents use online news as their primary source of information, underscoring the shifting landscape of media consumption and its implications for democracy.

2. We explored in depth technologies like augmented reality, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, and their implications on democratic structures.

• Augmented Reality, for instance, is already being used in election campaigns. In the 2020 U.S. elections, several candidates used AR to reach voters, offering a new dimension of interaction and information dissemination.
• IoT devices generate vast amounts of data, which can be used to inform policy decisions. The European Commission, for instance, reports that the integration of IoT in urban governance can lead to more responsive and citizen-centered policy making.
• With regard to AI, the OECD notes that AI can process and analyze public opinions and feedback efficiently, leading to more inclusive and evidence-based policy-making. The AI Index 2022 Report highlights that AI-driven platforms can monitor government spending and detect corruption, promoting accountability in democratic institutions

3. The course addressed vital issues like the impact of digital currencies on democracy, privacy challenges in a data-driven world, and the role of AI in governance.

• Digital currencies, especially cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies, have the potential to enhance financial inclusion, a key aspect of democratic empowerment. The World Bank reports that 1.7 billion adults remain unbanked, but two-thirds of them own a mobile phone, which could be used for digital finance. By providing accessible financial tools, digital currencies can empower a larger segment of the population to participate in the economy and, by extension, in democratic processes.
• A study by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance indicates that the number of cryptocurrency users worldwide more than doubled from 100 million in January 2021 to 221 million in June 2021, demonstrating the growing influence of these decentralized systems. This decentralization can be seen as a democratic force, redistributing power from traditional financial institutions to a broader user base.
• We discussed how the misuse of personal data can lead to infringements on civil liberties. For instance, the Cambridge Analytica scandal highlighted how personal data could be exploited for political manipulation, raising concerns about privacy in the context of democratic elections. Governments and organizations face the challenge of balancing security needs with privacy rights. The OECD’s guidelines on privacy and transborder flows of personal data set a framework for respecting individuals’ privacy while acknowledging the need for data flows.

A significant component of the course was the hands-on workshops, where students engaged in foresight exercises. They were tasked with identifying key drivers that could influence the future of digital transformation in democratic spaces over the next 20 years.

They developed plausible, compelling narratives for multiple future scenarios of digital tools in democratic decision-making. These exercises allowed students to contemplate the future interactions between citizens and policymakers, envision the evolution of digital public spaces, and debate who will be the driving forces behind these developments.

• Students worked in groups to map out stakeholders and assess their influence on future scenarios of digital democracy. They contemplated questions like:
• What kind of interactions will citizens and policymakers establish in the next two decades?
• How will digital public spaces evolve?
• Who will drive digital developments, and how will the digital space be regulated?

In conclusion, the course was not just an academic endeavor but a forward-looking journey into the possibilities and challenges of digital democracy. The foresight exercise conducted by the students stands out as a remarkable example of practical learning, encouraging them to engage deeply with the subject matter and to envision the future of democracy in the digital age.

I already look forward to meet the students from next year’s course.