TRANSFORMATION OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: INNOVATIONS, STABILITY, AND THE CRISIS OF TRUST
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32689/2523-4625-2025-1(77)-18Keywords:
digitalization, institutional challenges, digital democracy, institutional innovations, political transformations, interdisciplinary discourse, transformationAbstract
The article analyzes the transformation of political institutions under the influence of digitalization in the contextof the new technological reality. The relevance of the study is determined by profound changes in the interaction between citizens and the state, the emergence of institutional innovations, and a crisis of trust in democratic institutions. The purpose of the paper is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the impact of digitalization on democracy, institutional stability, and political participation.The study demonstrates that the concept of resilient democracy should be complemented by ideas of digital inclusivity and the protection of rights in cyberspace. The article explores the evolution of digital governance,e-parliamentarism, citizen e-participation, and the implementation of Big Data, artificial intelligence, andblockchain technologies in political processes. Special attention is given to the risks arising from digitalization, such as information manipulation, cyber threats, and the fragmentation of the political space. It is emphasized that social networks, despite expanding participation opportunities, also deepen societal polarization and undermine trust in institutions. The article notes that the openness of the digital environment can facilitate the spread of misinformation rather than strengthening civic awareness. The paper argues for the need for a comprehensive strategy to support political stability, including improvements in legislative regulation, the development of digitalethics, enhancement of digital literacy, and efforts to overcome spatial digital inequality. Emphasis is placed on theimportance of an interdisciplinary approach that combines political science, information technology, and social geography to better understand the challenges of digital democracy.In conclusion, the article asserts that digitalization simultaneously opens new opportunities for democraticdevelopment and presents unprecedented challenges for political institutions, requiring a rethinking of the principlesof legitimacy, accountability, and inclusiveness in the global information age.
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