Digitising Democracy

Digital technology is reshaping how democratic societies work, and the author argues that democracy must be rethought rather than simply defended in its current form. He draws on a growing body of evidence showing that digitalisation is straining traditional parliamentary systems close to their limits.

The book looks at how online echo chambers and exchanges with political bots are changing public debate, making it more emotionally charged and less rational, at times verging on frenzy. It also considers how democratic deliberation, which is slow and unhurried by design, clashes with the accelerating pace of the digital world. Finally, it examines technical developments that some fear could lead to decisions being handed over to algorithms.

The author maintains that democracy no longer operates in the digital age as it once did, but he does not call for abandoning it. The book's central concern is how democracy might be reinvented for this new era.