Launch Event: Path to Power 2024, Democracy Disrupted?

The Recap

The launch event, held on February 6, 2025, at the Hasso Plattner Institute, examined the current state of democracy around the world. This event marked the introduction of the Path to Power project under the Digital Technology, Governance, and Policy research group. It brought together a diverse array of participants, including civil society experts, academics, journalists, activists, and policymakers, who engaged in discussions on the insights generated by the project’s research. The findings emerged from a comparative study of the 2024 elections in nine countries: India, South Africa, Pakistan, Mexico, Indonesia, the United States, Mozambique, the United Kingdom, and Georgia. The insights point to concerning trends of democratic erosion and technological manipulation, among other issues. Additionally, the meeting underscored the need for collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and civil society to address these challenges, highlighting the importance of establishing clear definitions for concepts such as digital democracy and digital populism.


Opening Remarks
 Prof. Dr. Ralph Herbrich, one of the managing directors at the Hasso Plattner Institute, inaugurated the event by emphasizing the institute’s 26-year legacy and its dedication to computer science and its industrial applications. He addressed the influence of algorithms on electoral processes and stressed the significance of educating individuals about the societal implications of computer science.


Keynote Speech
Kristian Lempa, Director of the Division of Global Policy, Governance, and Cities at the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), provided an introduction to the GIZ. He explained the organization’s role in digital transformation and its collaboration with the Hasso Plattner Institute. Lempa highlighted GIZ’s work in partner countries and the challenges posed by digital authoritarianism versus digital democracy. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of scientific institutions in promoting digital democracy.


Project Overview and Team Introductions
Prof. Dr. Estariol de la Paz, Professor and Research Group Leader in Digital Technology, Governance, and Policy at the Hasso Plattner Institute, begins by discussing the project’s focus on technology and political processes. The aim of the project is to bring attention to the intersection of technology and political processes on a global scale, especially in developing countries.

Following this introduction, the members of the research team present themselves, outlining their backgrounds and areas of expertise.
The team includes:

  • Dr. Jamie Ranger, Researcher in Digital Technology, Governance, and Policy at the Hasso Plattner Institute
  • Dr. Juan S. Gómez-Cruces, Researcher in Digital Technology, Governance, and Policy at the Hasso Plattner Institute
  • Dr. Umer Jan, Researcher in Digital Technology, Governance, and Policy at the Hasso Plattner Institute
  • Ewan Thomas-Colquhoun, PhD Student
  • John Henry Bussey, Head of the Working Group on Maritime Southeast Asia at the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research (HIIK)

Their collective expertise spans areas such as political science, computational social science, and digital authoritarianism.


Elections in 2024
Prof. Dr. Estariol de la Paz discusses the significance of 2024 as a key year for democracy, with many important elections held in major countries. The highlight the elections in Pakistan, Indonesia, India, South Africa, Mexico, the UK, Mozambique, Georgia, and the US, examining their impact on democracy and the role of digital technologies. Specific examples from each country are provided, illustrating the challenges and opportunities in each context. Then the team discussed the eight insights, which were a result of the comparative research done across nine case study countries.

Key Insights:

  1. Parties and Players Internally Disrupt Liberal Democratic Processes
  2. Frustration with Political Representation Leads to Violence
  3. Access to Disruptive Technology Challenges Political Processes
  4. Digital Communication Structures Spread Hate and Drive Polarization
  5. Digital Technologies Enable Artificial Armies and Artificial Candidates
    State-Platform
  6. Cooperation is Needed to Address Online Toxicity.
  7. Action on Climate Change Has Been Sidelined
  8. Oligarchic Politics is Entrenched and Accelerating

Each of the insights was elaborated on, highlighting the country examples. A fruitful discussion then ensued during the question-and-answer session then ensued, which led to some action points.


Action Points:

  • Continue research on the conception of digital citizenship and the international component of it.
  • Use the expertise and ideas generated through the research to engage in knowledge transfer and create conversations with policymakers, civil society, and the general public.
  • Research the networks that transfer digital authoritarianism across borders, including the transfer of technologies and legal systems.
  • Investigate the extent to which different types of leaders impact internet freedom and social media practices in political contexts.
  • Develop a model to provide accurate information on the political leanings of parties and actors based on their speeches and texts.
  • Incorporate the insights from this research into computer science curricula to educate students on the societal impact of digital technologies.

The session concludes with a call for continued engagement and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of knowledge transfer and digital dissemination.