The impact of digitalization on the relationship between state and society has sparked a lively debate among scholars in digital politics. Some researchers propose the concept of “digital democracy,” suggesting that digitalization empowers citizens through increased knowledge and engagement. Conversely, others emphasize “digital governance” as a means for enhancing public administration and government oversight. Furthermore, some scholars examine the interplay between these two concepts, debating whether effective digital governance can reinforce digital democracy or if it may undermine democratic participation and deliberation.
This panel seeks to gather papers that provide new empirical evidence to support or challenge existing frameworks and to elucidate the complex relationship between digitalization, political engagement, and governance. We invite contributions that explore how digital technologies have transformed political life, reshaped communication between citizens and the state, and modified the interplay between public and private sectors.
Potential topics for exploration include, but are not limited to:
• How do digital tools enhance communication between citizens and government?
• In what ways do these tools contribute to greater transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in governance?
• How do digital technologies foster collaboration between the public and private sectors?
• What distinctions can be made between digital governance and traditional, hierarchical forms of governance?
• Do digital innovations lead to the formation of decentralized networks, and if so, how do these networks facilitate practices of deliberative democracy?
We look forward to engaging discussions that deepen our understanding of the nuances of state-society relations in the digital age.