Political Parties, Leadership and Digital Transformation in Contemporary Democracies

Abstract

Contemporary political parties face unprecedented challenges in maintaining internal transparency and organizational integrity as digital technologies fundamentally reshape party governance structures and leadership practices (Gerbaudo, 2024). This panel examines how digitalization and artificial intelligence transform intra-party democracy, accountability mechanisms, and leadership dynamics within political organizations. Digital leadership represents a fundamental shift from traditional authority structures toward technologically-mediated governance models that rely on digital platforms, algorithmic decision-making, and artificial intelligence tools (López-Figueroa et al., 2025). Digital leaders increasingly deploy chatbots for direct member communication, automated response systems for constituency engagement, and AI-driven analytics for strategic decision-making, creating new forms of leadership legitimacy and organizational control that bypass traditional party hierarchies. The panel explores how digital leadership affects core party functions including internal cohesion, member engagement, and organizational transparency. While digital leadership enables personalized connections with party members through social media and interactive platforms, it potentially fragments collective decision-making processes and democratic deliberation (Barberà & Fitzpatrick, 2024). Contributions examine these tensions between digital leadership efficiency and democratic integrity, addressing challenges for improving representation and accountability of contemporary party leaders. The integration of artificial intelligence in leadership communication raises critical questions about authenticity, manipulation, and the quality of intra-party democratic dialogue (Sandri, 2025). Yet, it can only boost deliberation and strengthen leadership’s responsiveness. Papers focus on case studies or comparative analysis, to examine how different contexts and democratic experiences shape digital party transformation. Particular attention is paid to contrasting traditional established parties with digital-native actors, analyzing whether organizational age and institutional heritage affect adaptation to technological innovation.

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