Navigating the Future of Democracy. Conclusive Reflections on Sciences Po’s “Digital Democracy” Course | by Gianluca Sgueo | Nov, 2023

A significant component of the course was the hands-on workshops, where students engaged in foresight exercises. They were tasked with identifying key drivers that could influence the future of digital transformation in democratic spaces over the next 20 years.

They developed plausible, compelling narratives for multiple future scenarios of digital tools in democratic decision-making. These exercises allowed students to contemplate the future interactions between citizens and policymakers, envision the evolution of digital public spaces, and debate who will be the driving forces behind these developments.

• Students worked in groups to map out stakeholders and assess their influence on future scenarios of digital democracy. They contemplated questions like:
• What kind of interactions will citizens and policymakers establish in the next two decades?
• How will digital public spaces evolve?
• Who will drive digital developments, and how will the digital space be regulated?

In conclusion, the course was not just an academic endeavor but a forward-looking journey into the possibilities and challenges of digital democracy. The foresight exercise conducted by the students stands out as a remarkable example of practical learning, encouraging them to engage deeply with the subject matter and to envision the future of democracy in the digital age.

I already look forward to meet the students from next year’s course.