Path to Power Project

The key concept is computational propaganda. We study the role of social media in amplifying disinformation and how algorithms and automation can be used to manipulate public opinion or disrupt democratic processes. 

The key concept is populism. Conceptualized as an ideology that seeks to empower the people while opposing elites and other groups within society, populism is analyzed in terms of its effects on the use, development, control, and regulation of digital technologies within national boundaries.

Extremism denotes holding views that lie outside the norms and attitudes of the mainstream social consensus within a given society. Extremists may use violence to pursue their ideological project or use a non-violent approach to reorient society around new values aligned with their extremist position. 

In democracies, we examine how hateful or inflammatory discourse—especially online—can fuel extralegal or vigilante violence against marginalised groups. In authoritarian and hybrid regimes, we analyse how governments use extremism as a legal and rhetorical tool to justify repression and tighten political control. 

Authoritarianism is a political system defined by a lack of free and fair elections, with centralized controls limiting political pluralism. It is characterized by the concentration of power in the hands of a single leader or group of elites. 

We research how such rulers use digital technologies to control information, undermine online freedoms, and oppress opponents. 

Digital platforms enable rapid mobilization, global solidarity, and new forms of collective action, meaning that online activism can shape political and social movements. In this regard, the concept of digital citizenship, understood as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use has been growing rapidly, challenging traditional notions of citizenship tied to nation-states and territorial boundaries. 

We seek to rethink this concept, aiming to explore how digital technologies are reshaping civic engagement, identity, and belonging. We also address digital divides, data privacy, and the ethical implications of algorithmic governance.