AI, Digital Democracy, and the Crisis of Social Cohesion: Rebuilding Political Trust
Abstract
In this paper, I examine the ambivalent role artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies play in con-temporary democracies. While AI-driven systems can intensify polarization, obscure accountability, and erode public trust, they also hold potential to strengthen democratic participation, social cohesion, and delibera-tion. I argue that the impact of AI is not predetermined: it depends on how technologies are embedded in institutional frameworks and political cultures.
I distinguish between two approaches: (i) digital technology as a tool for democracy that can enhance public debate, enable pluralism, and support civic engagement through platforms like vTaiwan or Decidim; (ii) and digital technology as a substitute for democracy that automates weak consensus and decision-making. Drawing from Rousseau’s concept of general will and Habermas’ theory of communicative action, I explore the risks of delegating political reasoning to machines and the dangers of algorithmic consensus that bypass human conflict and deliberation.
Therefore, I discuss alternatives such as pluralism-aware recommendation algorithms, emotionally intelli-gent moderation tools, and context-sensitive interventions to restore deliberative norms. Finally, I argue that rebuilding democratic trust in the age of AI requires rethinking institutional architectures. This involves not only decentralizing power, but embedding civic participation and democratic oversight within governance struc-tures. Only by integrating these practices into accountable institutions can we effectively counter the dominance of Big Tech and ensure that technological development serves democratic ends rather than undermining them.
