Digital infrastructures, such as social media platforms, data centers, and telecommunication networks, are increasingly shaping political landscapes, influencing both democratic and authoritarian regimes. These infrastructures reshape governance while also being molded by political interests, creating a complex interplay that impacts societal organization and stability. On one hand, digital technologies can foster civic engagement and transparency; on the other, they can facilitate surveillance, control, and repression, threatening democratic governance and enabling autocratic consolidation.
This panel will explore how digital technologies and platforms have been used to resist authoritarian practices, as well as how they have been exploited to erode democratic institutions. It will also examine the strategies employed by authoritarian regimes to leverage these technologies to consolidate power.
The panel brings together scholars specializing in the intersection of digital governance and political regimes. Topics to be discussed include the dual nature of digital governance: while digital tools offer opportunities for collective action and government accountability, they are equally used for repression, curbing freedoms, and deepening social divisions. Panelists will analyze case studies from various regions to illustrate both the successes and failures in resisting digital authoritarianism, providing insights into what strategies work under different conditions.
Through both empirical examples and theoretical discussions, this panel aims to contribute to the broader discourse on how digital governance can either combat or facilitate autocratization. The focus will be on identifying pathways to strengthen democratic governance by fostering cooperation among civil society, governments, and international organizations in mitigating the risks associated with digital technologies. This discussion is crucial given the growing threats to democracy in the digital age and the urgent need for innovative, coordinated responses.