Citizen participation and technologies in the digital age: challenges of inclusion and exclusion.

Abstract

As digital tools become an integral part of civic life, they offer unprecedented opportunities for citizens to participate and reconnect, while also creating new divisions within society. On the one hand, it might have a positive impact on citizen participation by enhancing their input; on the other hand, it also strengthens opposition and leads to negative consequences, such as digital exclusion or marginalisation. This panel will examine whether and how digital platforms, technologies, and tools can expand political engagement and reach communities at scales previously unimaginable. At the same time, it will address the persistent barriers related to accessibility, trust, and sustainability. While many solutions simply enable discussion, others promote empowerment and tangible action by offering gamified participation and tailored support for specific groups, such as minorities, young people, and marginalised groups. On the contrary, some tools may also disempower and reinforce existing inequalities in a society. What is more, it is visible that meaningful participation still requires human connection. The panel will explore key research priorities, including understanding grassroots motivations, strengthening digital and civic education, leveraging AI to mobilise participation without undermining public trust, and improving engagement strategies for hard-to-reach groups. Presenters are encouraged to address structural barriers, such as language and accessibility gaps; weak feedback loops that erode confidence in institutions; resistance to organisational change; the pressures of the attention economy; and the resource demands of high-quality participatory processes. At the same time, the panel will critically examine the challenges and potential negative implications of digital participation, including the risks of increased polarization, misinformation, erosion of trust in democratic institutions, and the digital divide that may exacerbate existing inequalities. The panel will also reflect on institutional responsibilities. These include promoting digital citizenship and journalist training, ensuring transparent and accountable participatory infrastructures, and integrating online and offline engagement to enhance legitimacy and inclusivity across political systems. The panel will also explore whether digital tools such as e-consultations, participatory budgeting platforms, and online deliberative forums can revitalise civic interest and democratic engagement, particularly among younger generations. Do these instruments counter or reproduce political apathy, populist narratives, and ideological depoliticisation? How is the rise of artificial intelligence and data-driven governance shaping public debate and policy preferences? The panel also focuses on the relationship between citizens and political organizations and decision-makers during the adoption of different digital tools, including AI, online platforms, or digital consultation, which reshapes communication between them. Digital adaptations have also impacted existing dynamics and power relations, while citizens and organizations can exert greater influence on decision-making through available tools and the use of AI. The panel provides a platform for comparative perspectives, empirical evidence, and normative reflections. We particularly welcome contributions that address the above questions, analyse inclusion and exclusion dynamics, evaluate innovative participatory tools and technologies, or explore how digital and human-centred practices can be combined to strengthen democratic governance in the digital age.

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