Global Democracy in the Age of Disruption

2024 was a year of democracy that was put to the test. More voters than ever in history headed to the polls, with elections in 64 countries plus the EU, accounting for almost half of the world’s population.

With democracy having been in decline for more than 15 years, the Digital Technology, Governance and Policy research team at the Hasso Plattner Institute took this extraordinary opportunity to undertake the Path to Power: 2024 project, which aims to develop a picture of global democracy in the age of disruption.

The Path to Power Project

Throughout 2024, we collected comparative datasets, analysed global trends, and undertook detailed case studies of elections in 9 countries, including the world’s three largest democracies – India, Indonesia and the USA – and important regional cases, such as Mexico, South Africa and Georgia.

We will unveil our project’s initial findings with an event in February 2025 that draws together experts from academic, public, policy, advocacy, practice and stakeholder communities.

Through a variety of media and forms – from policy reports to data visualisers, academic papers and social media videos, Path to Power aims encourage constructive discourse among diverse stakeholders and share our expertise in a way that supports the co-creation of future opportunities in this area of crucial global importance.

Launch Event

  • Date: Thursday, February 6th 2025
  • Time: 14:00- 17:30
  • Location: Hasso Plattner Institue, Potsdam.

Highlights of the event include: 

  • Unveiling of the State of Global Democracy report series and discussion of its themes and conclusions by Prof. Dr. Estariol de la Paz and the Path to Power research team
  • Keynote by Kristian Lempa, Director of Division of Global Policy, Governance and Cities at the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).
  • Q&A and moderated discussion with the research team and introduction to the projects’ further directions and other outputs
  • Opportunities for engaging in dialogue and networking with a diverse range of stakeholders from across government, civil society, academia and practitioners.

Programme

  • 13:30 -14:00                             Registration and Check-In
                • Guests arrive
  • 14:00 – 14:15                             Opening Remarks
                • Prof. Dr. Ralf Herbrich, Managing Director, Hasso Plattner Institute.
  • 14:15 – 14:30                               Keynote Speech
                • Kristian Lempa, Director of Division of Global Policy, Governance and Cities at the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).
  • 14:30 – 15:30                              Presentation- Key findings across all reports
                • Speakers:
                  • Prof. Dr. Estariol de la Paz, Professor and Research Group Leader, Digital Technology, Governance and Policy, Hasso Plattner Institute
                  • Dr. Jamie Ranger,Researcher, Digital Technology, Governance and Policy, Hasso Plattner Institute
                  • Dr. Juan S. Gómez- Cruces, Researcher, Digital Technology, Governance and Policy, Hasso Plattner Institute
                  • Dr Umer Jan, Researcher, Digital Technology, Governance and Policy, Hasso Plattner Institute
                  • Ewan Thomas-Colquhoun, PhD Student
                  • John Henry Bussey,
  • 15:30 – 16:00                              Break- Food and Drinks
  • 16:00 – 16:30                             Q & A Session and Discussion
  • 16:30 – 16:50.                             Introduction to the projects other outputs
  • 16:50 – 17:00                              Closing Remarks
  • 17:00 – 17:30                               Networking, Drinks, Snacks
To register or for more information email: pathtopower@hpi.de