Democratic Change and Knowledge
In an increasingly digital society, the conditions under which knowledge is created, shared and evaluated are changing. As a result, the very foundations of democratic processes are also shifting: for example, how people access information, form opinions and develop trust in institutions. This trust – whether in science, parliaments, the media or the judiciary – is central to the legitimacy o of democratic decision-making and the formation of public opinion. Digital developments are opening up new forms of knowledge acquisition, production and participation for various stakeholders in political processes. At the same time, they enable greater transparency in institutional decision-making. However, these changes also pose risks such as disinformation, algorithmic bias and the erosion of shared knowledge bases. For instance, when trust in science and the media begins to erode.
The research priority Democratic Change and Knowledge explores the role and interplay of knowledge and science in democratic self-determination, particularly in the context of digital challenges. It focuses on how scientific expertise can continue to inform democratic opinion formation when facts are contested and populist worldviews are gaining popularity. The research takes a multi-perspective approach, examining the risks of epistemic crises and strategies for fostering resilient democratic processes in the digital age.
Democratic Change and Knowledge combines political science, law, sociology and media studies. The aim is to understand the relationship between knowledge and democratic practices, and to identify the institutional conditions that allow for a stable, forward-looking democratic knowledge order.
Research questions: Democratic Change and Knowledge
Science & educationAction for Interactive Anti-Polarisation Learning Experiences for a Better Democracy
The ACTILPEX consortium provides students and other interested parties with the tools to understand mechanisms of polarisation and to counteract them.
Science & education · Science engagementCapacities and competencies in dealing with hate speech and hostility towards science
This project develops strategies to make the science system more resilient to high publicity negative statements.
Science & educationOrganisational Resilience and Creativity: Exploring the Future of Educational Technology
How can educational technology be creatively contribute to building resilient universities and equip them to cope with future change?
Media & data · Politics & lawData & Smart City Governance: Using the Example of Air Quality Management
The project is developing a data governance model with which administration, business and civil society can work together on data utilisation and processing in...
Politics & law · Science & educationAcquisition logic as an obstacle to Diamond Open Access
The research project is investigating how Diamond Open Access publication model can be organised in Germany in the long term.
Politics & law · Science & education · Science engagementRepository for scientific policy and society advice
Political decisions are increasingly based on empirical research results. The project makes advisory documents specifically searchable and develops quality standards.
Society & culture · Media & data · Politics & law · Science engagement · Society & culturePlatform://Democracy
The project "Platform://Democracy" examines how the rules of discourse on platforms can be aligned with public values.
Politics & law · Society & cultureDigital Electoral Compass 2021
The Digital Electoral Compass is intended to create transparency, show the parties' positions on digital policy issues and provide an overview of their individual...
Media & data · Politics & lawRanking Digital Rights
Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) works to promote freedom of expression and privacy on the internet by creating global standards and incentives for companies to...
Science & education · Society & cultureThe Third Engagement Report
The Third Engagement Report is a report on civic engagement that focuses on "The Future of Civil Society: Young Engagement in the Digital Age.”
DECiDe – Digital Identity, European Citizenship and the Future of Democracy
We developed a prototype for e-voting and e-polling based upon digital identity and Random-Sample Voting. The project was one of the winning projects by...
Politics & law · Society & cultureWahlkompass Digitales
Click here for Wahlkompass 2021 Digital policy will be a focal point of the German federal elections in 2017. More than ever, the elections...- Politics & law · Society & culture
Digital Civil Disobedience
The political phenomenon of civil disobedience has undergone a remarkable change in recent times, with the expression electronic civil disobedience coming into being in... - Media & data · Politics & law
Participation in German Law
In the context of a comprehensive project concerning online participation in cooperation with the Hans-Bredow-Institute, the sub-project „e-petitions“ focuses on the e-petitions platform of...
Research Lead (m/f/d): Democratic Change and Knowledge
HIIG is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to lead on establishing a new area of research dedicated to addressing the challenges currently facing democracy in the digital age.
Digitaler Salon: There’s no app for that!
A comparison of AI approaches in the EU & USA: can we reconcile politics, business and society under a democratic umbrella?