Digital future of democracy: Paderborn study sounds the alarm!

Digital future of democracy: Paderborn study sounds the alarm!

On September 30, 2025, Paderborn scientists presented the results of their interdisciplinary study as part of the INNOVADE project. Under the title “INNOVAtive DEmocracy through digitalization,” the study aims to explore how digital technologies can strengthen democratic processes. Partner organizations in the project include “Beyond the Horizon”, “Fundación Cibervoluntarios”, “Hybrid Core” and KU Leuven. This far-reaching project offers comprehensive insights into current and future (digital) democracy models, digital publics and online participation.

The study is over 300 pages long and concludes with ten specific recommendations, including strengthening participatory and deliberative democracy and increasing citizen participation in decision-making processes. A key concern of the researchers is ensuring clear constitutional protection mechanisms and measures against foreign influence and disinformation. Project coordinator Fatih Yilmaz emphasizes that it is absolutely necessary for institutions to adapt to digitalization. The study was prepared in such a way that it is understandable even for laypeople and is supplemented by graphics and tables.

Contents of the study

• Untersuchung digitaler Öffentlichkeiten
• Online-Partizipation und digitaler Aktivismus
• Elektronische Wahlen
• Open Governance mit Fokus auf Transparenz und Bürger*innenbeteiligung

A central point of the study is the analysis of the threats posed by disinformation and the manipulation of electoral processes. Given the growing complexity of the digital world and the associated political implications, informed political decisions are essential. Max Weber defines politics as the making of collectively binding decisions that affect both material and intangible values, such as protecting personal data and ensuring widespread Internet coverage. Digital communication without fixed borders makes it difficult to effectively implement democratic decisions, leading to tension between national and global decisions.

For countries, this means that differences in internet offerings and national regulation can increasingly become a problem. Network policy has established itself as an independent political field in Germany, and technical responsibilities are firmly anchored in the political institutions. The emergence of digital technologies has increased societal demands for regulation in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Cyberspace is increasingly seen as an area for political activity.

Challenges and opportunities

Increasing digitalization is changing democracy in many ways. Expectations of digital participation were often not met, with technical challenges – such as the need for secrecy and traceability of digital elections – highlighted. Participation is also affected by inequalities. Against the background of these challenges, the professionalization of civil society is becoming increasingly important as citizens demand more transparency and responsiveness from political institutions.

The transformation of democracy is understood as a multidimensional result of political action, and it turns out that the structure of the communicative infrastructure is crucial for democratic participation. Digital communication has not only transformed the public sphere, but also changed political governance mechanisms. Consequently, it is necessary to promote political education in order to sensitize citizens to the opportunities and risks of digital communication.

The results of this study will be presented in a webinar on October 21, 2025, and those interested can register via the project website. The study is accessible free of charge and is aimed at politicians, scientists, citizens and actors in democratic governance in order to actively promote and support digital democracy. The comprehensive examination of digital democracy models and the associated challenges is a decisive step towards the future of democracy.

University of Paderborn reports that the study also addresses the need for institutions to adapt to digital transformation. The digital as an influencing factor on political decisions is used by LPB BW further supported by shedding light on the challenges and opportunities of digitalization for democracy. The Federal Agency for Civic Education adds to the analyzes that understanding the interactions between digitalization and democracy is of fundamental importance for political education.