What is digital democracy?

The etymology and Athenian origin of the term reveal that democracy means "rule by the people" and is rooted in the idea of collective decision-making by the general population, as opposed to rule by a king, elite, or small group.

The development of the Internet has resulted in a global increase in institutional initiatives that aim to enhance democratic legitimacy and collective decision-making through technology. This process is known as 'digital democracy'.

Digital Divide

The digital divide is a key concept in the study of digital inequalities, focusing on social groups that face challenges in accessing, using, and developing skills in digital tools due to factors such as income level, gender, cultural capital, and origin.

Over the past two decades, digital inequalities have not decreased; they have diversified and become more flexible, incorporating themselves into new areas of social life where technologies are increasingly present. In contemporary European societies, the digital divide is not explained by a lack of access to a connection, which is generally guaranteed, but by inequalities in the use and exploitation of technological resources.

The close link between social and digital inequalities creates what is known as an
'inequality loop'. This is the way in which the digital exclusion of historically marginalised segments of the population can increase inequality gaps and deepen their social exclusion.

Axes of inequality and interconnected barriers

For a better understanding of the digital divide and the social groups directly affected, it is necessary to consider the various axes of inequality involved, namely, age, education, gender, income level, territorial variable (rural areas, for example), language, digital skills.

However, beyond these barriers related to user profiles, it is also possible to identify institutional barriers, such as a lack of resources or commitment and continuity, as well as cultural barriers, such as a lack of a culture of participation and mistrust of technological innovations. In any case, these barriers are interconnected, influencing each other and should not be considered separately.
Write your awesome label here.

Barriers associated with user profile

  • Age
  • Digital Skills
  • Gender
  • Income level
  • Language

Institutional barriers

  • Resources
  • Commitment and continuity

Cultural barriers

  • Culture of participation
  • Distrust of technological innovation

Digital Inclusion

Power in digital contexts shapes knowledge, identities, social relations and formations in such a way that, while it privileges some, it marginalises others. Digital inclusion models are policies and initiatives that represent a great opportunity to mitigate forms of marginalisation occurring at various levels of the digital divide.

However, we must be cautious in our approach and provide a warning that effective digital inclusion of marginalised social groups is not possible unless it is accompanied by a set of comprehensive policies aimed at improving the material conditions of their offline reality.

E-participation

Since the beginning of the 21st century, governments have adopted e-participation (electronic participation) practices to increase citizen engagement and the transparency of government decisions. In this regard, three levels of citizen participation can be identified:

Information

related to the production of information by different levels of government and its
use and consultation by citizens;

Consultation

where citizens provide feedback on specific issues or situations;

Active participation

where a relationship is established based on citizen collaboration with the
different levels of government, which involves citizens in decision-making.
Write your awesome label here.

Good Practices of Digital Democracy

Empty space, drag to resize
Main objectives of the digitalization processes: achieving greater transparency, promoting institutional openness, facilitating citizen involvement in decision-making processes.
Europe's Digital Decade Agenda for 2030. Four action objectives: skills, digital transformation of businesses, secure and sustainable digital infrastructures, digitalisation of public services.
Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). Four levels of European countries' digital performance: human capital, connectivity, integration of digital technologies, digitalized public services.
Good territorial practices in the EU: smart villages, agriculture 4.0, online tools,broadband, digital innovation hubs, accelerators and focus groups, research.

Our Courses

Who we are

Digital transformation is revolutionising democracy. INNOVADE (INNOVAtive DEmocracy through digitalisation) drives this shift by addressing the challenges and risks associated with digital platforms. The project will deliver advanced tools and frameworks to empower inclusive, transparent, and effective e-participation across Europe.

Connect with us

  •    Linkedin
Copyright © All rights reserved to Innovade 2025