The political potential of the digital generation

Oksana Dmytrenko

The political potential of the digital generation

Oksana Dmytrenko

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the specific features of young people’s political activity in the context of digital transformation and to assess the potential of digital tools to overcome the crisis of trust in democratic insti- tutions. The study employed a case study method to analyse digital “revolutions”, a comparative analysis of the levels of political activity of young people in different countries, and a content analysis of social media to investigate new forms of political participation. The findings of the study revealed substantial differences in young people’s political engagement between developed and developing democracies. Developed countries show a declining trend in conventional forms of po- litical participation, while the role of digital platforms in political mobilisation is growing. In developing countries, digital technologies are often used as a tool for protest and struggle against authoritarian regimes. The study revealed a tendency towards individualisation of political participation and globalisation of the political consciousness of young people, which is manifested in a focus on concrete issues and participation in transnational movements. The analysis showed that digital platforms are creating new opportunities for political participation, including through online petitions, crowdfunding of political campaigns, and digital platforms for participatory democracy. At the same time, the risks associated with digital inequality, manipulation, and disinformation in the online space were identified. The study demonstrated the potential of digital tools to increase transparency and accountability of the authorities, which can help restore young people’s trust in democratic institutions. Specifically, the study covered the effectiveness of such tools as open data portals, e-government platforms, and e-voting systems. The analysis of new vectors in the development of digital democracy, such as the integra- tion of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies, has revealed considerable potential for transforming political processes, but also highlighted the need to accommodate the ethical aspects and potential risks of their implementation. The findings of this study are significant for developing strategies to engage young people in political processes and mod- ernise democratic institutions in the digital age

Keywords

open data; online activism; e-government; social media; participatory democracy; civic engagement; media literacy

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Suggested citation

Dmytrenko, O. (2024). The political potential of the digital generation. Foreign Affairs, 34(4), 128-140. https://doi.org/10.46493/2663-2675.34(4).2024.128