Long description:

The transformative impacts of digitalization on society are visible both within nation states and across borders. Information and communication technologies are typically considered beneficial for democracy. Nevertheless, this book explores the challenges that technology brings to democracy, and in so doing advances our understanding of this crucial digital, social and political phenomenon. It contributes to the broader discussion of the relationship between international, national and sub-national norms, institutions and actors in an increasingly connected world.

Insightful and current, this book offers a wide variety of perspectives in an area where there is still not yet an extensive body of research. It considers, for example: the extent to which new forms of digital political engagement change traditional democratic decision-making; how receptive national governments and authorities are to digital democratic movements; how governments can uphold the values of democratic society while also ensuring flexibility with regard to the private sector; and how we should judge these developments in light of the cross-border effects of digitalization.

Understanding the influence of digitalization on democracy is crucial. As such, this book will appeal to a broad audience including, but not limited to, social scientists, policy makers, legal researchers, NGOs, governments, students and lawyers.

Contributors include: M. Adams, A. Banerjee, E. Bayamlioglu, C.L. Blake, J. Cudmore, C. Cuijpers, A. Dumas, C.R. Farina, M.-J. Garot, T. Gylfason, H.L. Kong, E.A. Lazzari, P.L. Lindseth, N. Luka, A. Meuwese, L.F.M. Moncau, C. Nam, M. Newhart, U. Pagallo, I. Pernice, C. Prins, R. Radu, M.S.G. Rosina, R. Weill, K. van Aeken, B. Zhao, N. Zingales

Whether within or beyond the confines of the state, digitalization continues to transform politics, society and democracy. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have already considerably affected political systems and structures, and no doubt they will continue to do so in the future. Adopting an international and comparative perspective, Digital Democracy in a Globalized World examines the impact of digitialization on democratic political life. It offers theoretical analyses as well as case studies to help readers appreciate the changing nature of democracy in the digital age.

Table of Contents:

Contents:

Introduction

1. Digitalization through the lens of law and democracy
Maurice Adams and Corien Prins

Part I Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives
2. E-democracy, the global citizen, and multilevel constitutionalism
Ingolf Pernice

3. In search of the Holy Grail: a principled approach to multistakeholder governance in internet policy-making
Nicolo Zingales, Roxana Radu

4. The broken promises of democracy in the information era
Ugo Pagallo

5. Depoliticization in the digital infosphere: When communication runs counter-democratic
Emre Bayamlioglu

6. The ambivalence of the impact of digitalization on democracy through the lens of privacy and transparency
Colette Cuijpers

7. Election integrity: the constitutionality of transitioning to electronic voting in comparative terms
Rivka Weill

Part II Case Studies
8. Digital democracy in Brazil: is technology a game-changer?
Mônica Steffen Guise Rosina, Luiz Fernando Marrey Moncau and Eduardo Alves Lazzari

9. Deliberative democracy and digital urban design in a Canadian city: The case of the McGill Online Design Studio
Hoi L. Kong, Nik Luka, Jaimie Cudmore and Andrea Dumas

10. Digital support for enhanced democratic participation in US rulemaking
Cynthia R. Farina, Cheryl L. Blake, Mary Newhart and Chaebong Nam

11. The European Citizens? Initiative: an effective tool to promote a digital European democracy?
Marie-José Garot

12. Digital tools and the derailment of Iceland´s new constitution
Thorvaldur Gylfason and Anne Meuwese

13. Digital democracy in Belgium and the Netherlands. A socio-legal analysis of technologies, embedding and expectations of two Fourth Wave innovations
Koen van Aeken

14. Digitization and democracy in China: the new Hunger Games
Bo Zhao

15. Internet censorship in India: Internet censorship in India: the law and beyond
Arpan Banerjee

Epilogue

16. Technology, Democracy, and Institutional Change
Peter L. Lindseth

Index