International Conference
Frontiers of Politics: Transforming Democracies in the Digital Communication Age
The “Frontiers of Politics” conference addresses the profound transformations of liberal democracy in the digital communication era. The emergence of new technologies, political and economic crises (polycrisis), and cultural shifts are reshaping traditional democratic structures, creating both significant risks and innovative opportunities. New models are emerging, ranging from technocracy, emphasizing technical expertise, to populism, mobilizing anti-establishment sentiments, and deliberative democracy, fostering open and participatory citizen dialogue. The aim is to understand how these scenarios could redefine the future of democratic institutions.
Thursday, June 19
15.00-15.15 – Introduction
Gabriele Giacomini (University of Udine) & Roberto Paura (Italian Institute for the Future)
15.15-16.15 – Keynote speech: Navigating the Polycrisis
Michael J. Albert (University of Edinburgh)
Discussant: Roberto Paura (Italian Institute for the Future)
16.15-16.30 Break
16.30-18.30 – Forseighting Democratic Challenges
Chair: Adriano Cozzolino (University of Campania)
- Holger Kiik (University of Tallinn) – The Possible Role of Knowledge in Democracy
- Roland Benedikter (Center for Advanced Studies Eurac Research) – The Chatbot-Transformation: Impacts on Pluralism and Democracy
- Elizabeth Florescu (Millennium Project) – The State of the Future and Democracy as a Global Challenge
- Ivana Milojević (Metafuture & University of Edinburgh) – Contesting Authoritarianism: The Role of the Higher Education Sector
Friday, June 20
15.00-16.30 – Scenarios beyond liberal democracy
Chair: Andrea Colombo (University of Padova)
- Tena Prelec (University of Rijeka) – Indulging Kleptocracy
- Marko Luka Zubcic (Institute of Philosophy in Zagreb) – Social Inequalities and Epistemic Reliability in Governance
- Manuel Anselmi (University of Bergamo) – Populism and Communication Technologies
- José Luis Martí (University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona) – Strengths and Weaknesses of Deliberative Democracy
16.30-16.45 Break
16.45-18.30 – Navigating Political Risk: Democracy, Disruption, and the Digital Age
Chair: Cecilia Sottilotta (University for Foreigners of Perugia)
- Cecilia Sottilotta (University for Foreigners of Perugia) – Why Political Risk Analysis Matters for the Future of Democratic Systems
- Julian Campisi (University of Toronto Scarborough) – Populism, (dis)Information and Political Risk in Developed Democracies
- Carolina Polito e Manfredi Valeriani (LUISS) – Artificial Intelligence and Political Risk Analysis
- Derica Lambrechts (Stellenbosch University) – The Politics of Truth: Epistemic Security and Rising Political Risk in Southern African Democracies
Scientific and organizational committee
Gabriele Giacomini (University of Udine)
Roberto Paura (Italian Institute for the Future)
Adriano Cozzolino (University of Campania L. Vanvitelli)
With the patronage of the Italian Society for Critical Theory
