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Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World

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A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760). This special issue belongs to the section "Contemporary Politics and Society".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 19930

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Dr. David F. J. Campbell

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Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, A-1010 Vienna, Austria
Interests: comparative political science; quality of democracy; knowledge; knowledge democracy and knowledge economy; higher education systems; innovation; art and arts (artistic research)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The focus of this Special Issue is on cross-disciplinary discussions that reflect the ongoing and rapidly increasing societal, economic, and democratic transformations. These transitions are being driven by interconnections between environmental, political, and technological changes. There is a need to understand the broader systemic effects. The results are concepts such as knowledge democracy and innovation democracy, and an interest in applying governance for their implementation.

The currently arising global challenges include shifts in labor, work, and education, the need for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches in artistic and scientific research in order to promote democracy and the quality of democracy, fostering new socially creative environments, addressing climate change and global warming, enhancing gender relations and other references of equality, addressing implications of an aging society, managing migration, governing digital transformation and artificial intelligence, understanding the impact of technology on society and the economy and democracy, fostering future innovation, embracing new economic models, and activating art for societal transformation.

These radical transformation and transition processes will have far-reaching consequences for the sciences, arts, society, economy, and democracy. To elevate these challenges into productive solutions, we must broaden our understanding and adopt interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to reflective thinking, profound problem-solving, and the making of sustainable decisions.

In summary, contributions are welcome that reflect on knowledge democracy and innovation democracy, with wider ramifications for democracy, politics and innovation, and social integration in the contemporary world. Interested prospective authors should connect directly with the Guest Editor and submit a first tentative abstract (with title and keywords).

Dr. David F. J. Campbell
Guest Editor

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Keywords

cohesion
global challenges
governance of knowledge and innovation
innovation democracy
interdisciplinarity
knowledge democracy
quality of democracy
radicality
sustainable development
transdisciplinarity
transformation
transition

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Dynamics of Humanitarian Diplomacy During Wartime: Insights from Tigray Crisis in Ethiopia

by Mulubrhan Atsbaha Geremedhn and Hafte Gebreselassie Gebrihet

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(11), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13110626 - 20 Nov 2024

Viewed by 947

Abstract

This study examines the role of humanitarian diplomacy during the Tigray humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, a humanitarian disaster marked by severe shortages in food, healthcare, and essential services that deeply affect civilians. A qualitative approach using both primary and secondary data grounds the study by exploring key actors in humanitarian diplomacy, their successes, and barriers to aid delivery. Humanitarian actors, such as UN agencies, international NGOs, donor countries, the EU, the US, and the African Union, have engaged with the Ethiopian government, the TPLF, and the Tigray Transitional Government to alleviate the crisis. Notable achievements in humanitarian diplomacy include negotiations, information gathering, communication, civilian needs assessment, resource mobilization, advocacy for international law, and distressed civilians. Humanitarian diplomacy has facilitated international aid operations, saving lives during critical periods, despite practical difficulties. Diplomatic efforts have faced significant interruptions due to access restrictions imposed by the Ethiopian government, security threats from ongoing fighting leading to attacks on aid convoys and casualties among aid workers, and bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the Ethiopian government. This study highlights the necessity for effective humanitarian diplomacy in accounting for complex political landscapes in conflict-affected regions, developing flexible strategies that enhance access to aid, and improving humanitarian interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

27 pages, 416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Libertarian Populism? Making Sense of Javier Milei’s Political Discourse

by Reinhard Heinisch, Oscar Gracia, Andrés Laguna-Tapia and Claudia Muriel

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(11), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13110599 - 4 Nov 2024

Viewed by 2048

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the political discourse of Javier Milei and to determine which concept of populism best captures his approach. Although perceived by many as a populist, Milei is unusual in that he sees himself as a liberal libertarian and defender of the West against collectivist policies. To this end, this study analyzes selected speeches by Milei from three different periods during and after the 2024 presidential election campaign and applies a deductive coding scheme designed to identify ideational populism, populist discursive framing, populism as strategy, and populism as crisis performance. The analysis confirms that Milei is at best a partial populist, as he fails to define the core populist concept of “the people”. It concludes that the concept of crisis performance emerges as the most apt theoretical framework to classify Milei’s type of populism. By rhetorically transforming the crisis not only into an existential economic issue but also into a moral tale of corruption and failure at the highest levels, he can appeal for radical change and offer himself as the national political savior. Milei’s discourse also illustrates that, unlike ideological populism or discursive populist framing, in the performative turn, the victims of the crisis, the people, often remain a vague signifier defined by their suffering at the hands of elites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

19 pages, 539 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Extremes: The Impact of Radical Right-Wing Populism on Conspiracy Beliefs in Austria

by Diana Lucia Hofmann

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(10), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13100558 - 18 Oct 2024

Viewed by 786

Abstract

(1) Background: Populist radical right-wing parties and politicians have used conspiracy theories to perpetuate the antagonism between an evil elite conspiring against the good and unknowing people. Yet, less is known about whether and to what extent radical right-wing populism at the individual level is associated with different conspiracy beliefs. This analysis explores how the main components of radical right-wing populism—populist, nativist, and authoritarian attitudes—relate to both a general conspiracy mentality and specific conspiracy theories prevalent in political discourse. (2) Methods: Using data from an original 2023 online survey conducted in Austria, a stronghold of the populist radical right, this study includes new questions on immigration, COVID-19, and climate change, as well as a conspiracy mentality scale. (3) Results: The analyses reveal that all the main components are positively associated with different conspiracy beliefs, albeit to varying degrees. Across models, the strongest predictor is populism, followed by nativism and authoritarianism. Nativism varies the most across different conspiracy beliefs and is particularly associated with the belief in conspiracy theories related to immigration and climate change. (4) Conclusions: The results highlight the prevalence of radical right-wing populist attitudes across various conspiracy beliefs, reflecting how populist radical right-wing actors leverage conspiracy theories in their political discourse. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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22 pages, 2042 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Learning for Policy Design: A Bibliometric Analysis

by Luis Peña-Campello, Elisa Espín-Gallardo, María José López-Sánchez and Mariola Sánchez

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(10), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13100504 - 26 Sep 2024

Viewed by 809

Abstract

Social learning is the main policy-design mechanism that involves interactions between agents. This study provides an overview of the research on policy design using social learning. Descriptive and co-citation analyses were used to identify emerging research lines and thematic similarities between scientific publications. The database used for the bibliometric analysis contained 271 articles published between 1979 and 2022 in 152 journals indexed by the SSCI. We propose a study based on the origins and the future research agenda of social learning for policy design. The results reveal that “environment”, “governance”, and “social” represent the knowledge base. These topics have evolved over time and have become established as a consolidated intellectual structure. In addition, a new topic called “media and news” has emerged, focusing on the challenges of spreading fake news and learning manipulation in a post-truth world. The cluster “Media and news” is gaining significance due to its impact on the dissemination of information and the shaping of opinions in contemporary society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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23 pages, 1398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing Media Content in Turkiye and the UK during the COVID-19 Pandemic Considering the Dimensions of Quadruple Helix Collaboration Processes

by Lutz Peschke, Seyedehshahrzad Seyfafjehi, Irmak Dündar and Yasemin Gümüş Ağca

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090458 - 2 Sep 2024

Viewed by 769

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 between 2020 and 2022 highlighted the significant role of news media as a tool of communication among different social actors. Due to the novelty of the virus, most citizens turned to official news outlets to obtain reliable information about the disease and pandemic regulations. Therefore, a content analysis of news coverage in different countries provides insight into their Quadruple Helix dynamics, which reflects new patterns of knowledge democracy under consideration of the media-based public sphere. This article aims to trace the patterns of prevalent topics related to COVID-19 news in Turkish and British mainstream news agencies between September 2020 and March 2022. By deploying content analysis, this research endeavours to elicit public discourses created around the pandemic. These media agencies engaged in critical commentary on the pandemic situation and the policies enacted during this period, updating citizens with the latest information. However, the differences in the political and social structures of each country influence their Quadruple Helix knowledge exchange, which has a high impact on transformation processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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25 pages, 3995 KiB

Open AccessArticle

African Democracy in the Context of Agenda 2063: Examining Progress and Challenges

by Hafte Gebreselassie Gebrihet and Erlend Eidsvik

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(8), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13080429 - 18 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1303

Abstract

This study examines the progress and challenges in the democratic landscape of Africa within the framework of the Africa Agenda 2063 (hereafter AA2063). Initiated in 2013, the Agenda signifies Africa’s commitment to an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful continent. Despite these aspirations, Africa faces persistent challenges, including political instability, socio-economic inequalities, and health crises. This study triangulates data from Afrobarometer public perception surveys, Varieties of Democracies expert insights, and the Ibrahim Index of African Governance to provide a broad understanding of the ten-year trend in democratic governance in Africa. The study found an increased demand for democracy, contrasted with a continuous decline in the supply of democracy. The study observed that, based on the average democratic performance over the decade, measured at 45% using V-Dem indices and 44% using IIAG percentage, Africa needs to score more than twice the current performance every year to align with the democratic aspirations of AA2063. This study underscores the need for targeted reforms to bridge the gap between current democratic performance and the envisioned goals of AA2063. It identifies key areas for improvement, including the separation of powers and checks and balances, citizens’ active participation, accessibility to state-owned media, and the independence of election monitoring bodies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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18 pages, 922 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crisis and Organizational Sustainability: Empirical Analysis of the Implication of Transformational Leadership on the Decision to Stay Mediated by the Commitment of the Democratic Party in Indonesia

by Herzaky Mahendra Putra, Fendy Suhariadi, Suparto Wijoyo, Sukron Ma’mun, Ian Firstian Aldhi and Dwi Hardaningtyas

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(6), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13060309 - 11 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1313

Abstract

The research focuses on the impact of transformational leadership on the decision to stay mediated by commitment after a court refusal regarding illegal extraordinary congress involving the outsiders of a political party in Indonesia (in this case, it is the Democratic Party currently led by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono), where this phenomenon is classified as a crisis. Theories and the previous literature pointed out that transformational leadership would significantly affect an individual’s decision to stay with the institution through commitment. Therefore, this research empirically analyzes the hypotheses using quantitative methods on 349 respondents who are central (DPP) and local (DPD and DPC) active committees of the Democratic Party. Respondents are collected using cluster random sampling. Referring to theories and the previous literature, the latent variables of this research are constructed using dimensions. Transformational leadership (TL) has four dimensions which are charisma (idealized influence), inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual considerations. Commitment has three dimensions which are affective, normative, and sustainable commitments. The decision to stay has two dimensions, which are intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. By using Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Square (SEM–PLS), the research revealed that the direct effect shows that transformational leadership and commitment significantly influence the decision to stay. On the other hand, the indirect effect indicates that commitment significantly mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and the decision to stay. The result indicates strong transformational leadership performed by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono as the chief of the Democratic Party in Indonesia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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15 pages, 1569 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Cooperation: Historical Process and Driving Mechanisms

by Zhicong Lin, Zhenjie Yang, Johnny F. I. Lam and Lue Li

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(6), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13060297 - 30 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 988

Abstract

Cooperation in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area under the “one country, two systems” framework is different from regional cooperation in other areas. Its unique cross-border cooperation within one country has attracted much attention from the academic community. Since the 1980s, the cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao has gone through different stages with China’s development. Examining the process of change can contribute to understanding the logic and driving mechanisms of cooperation in the Greater Bay Area. This study shows that regional cooperation has been driven from the market to the combined influence of the market and government since the 1980s. During this transition, the central government has become increasingly involved in the cooperation through political embedding, eventually becoming the main driver of this regional cooperation. However, regardless of whether the driving force was the market or the government, significant internal tensions remained throughout the transition process. The research suggests that the top-level design for institutionalising regional cooperation can effectively balance market and administrative forces, leveraging the strengths of each. It is valuable to elucidate the uniqueness and complexity of Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao cooperation under “one country, two systems”, which will contribute to further promoting deep cooperation in the Greater Bay Area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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12 pages, 283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing the Election Systems for Overseas Constituency Representatives in Multiple Countries

by Shuji Yamauchi and Takashi Sekiyama

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(3), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13030177 - 20 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1948

Abstract

Although electoral systems are a traditional focus in political science, limited research exists on the characteristics of overseas constituency representation. This study aims to quantitatively elucidate these characteristics through a comparative analysis of the election systems in eight countries. This study analyzes overseas constituency representative systems while focusing on key factors such as the number of eligible voters, seats, voter turnout, and representativeness (value of a single vote). Voter turnout in overseas districts varies significantly among these countries. Notably, Croatia and Romania exhibit exceptionally high voter turnouts in overseas districts. Common characteristics in high-turnout countries include a higher representativeness in overseas districts than the home country and a small proportion of overseas voters in the total electorate. This dynamic incentivizes overseas voters to participate in elections to reflect their minority opinions in national politics. Furthermore, it potentially leads to a higher voter turnout in overseas districts than in the home country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

28 pages, 6082 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Right-Wing Leftists, Left-Wing Rightists, and Traditionalist Liberals: Core Political Values and Ideological Inconsistency at the Party-Elite Level in Bulgaria

by Martin Konstantinov

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13010012 - 22 Dec 2023

Viewed by 3698

Abstract

The growth of heterodox ideological configurations, or ideological inconsistencies, among the electorate of Western countries, has been offered as one explanation for recent momentous political events, such as Brexit or the election of Donald Trump as US President. Previous research, however, suggests that ideological inconsistency has been typical for Central and Eastern European (CEE) states for the past thirty years after the fall of the Socialist regimes there. Based on a survey of 102 active members of local and national party structures in Bulgaria, followed by in-depth interviews with the same respondents, I develop a conceptual and methodological approach aimed at objectively measuring Bulgarians’ political values and ideological orientations. Building on previous research on the statistical independence of the social and economic dimensions of ideology, this study identifies three main models of ideological inconsistency at the party-elite level in Bulgaria, offering evidence of the “homogeneity in ideological inconsistency” in this post-Socialist country, with party elites and electorate following the same patterns of inconsistency. The existence of a conservative value complex, integrating traditionalist, statist, and nationalist attitudes regarding the social sphere, is another major finding of the study. I discuss the specific historical and socio-cultural background contributing to ideological inconsistency in Bulgaria and potential implications for the wider CEE region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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10 pages, 1063 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Language and Power: How Democracy and Pluralism Shape Patterns of Minority Political Representation in Bali, Indonesia

by Nur Sofyan, Naili Farida, Rina Martini and Dewi Erowati

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(12), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12120657 - 27 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1530

Abstract

This study aims to portray the political representation of minorities using discourse analysis as a tool to analyse the 2019 legislative election in Bali province. Bali is a province with the largest Hindu population in Indonesia. It is necessary for minority groups to take strategic steps to express their participation and existence in political contestation. The power of language and the strength of minority political candidates have led to successful competition for seats in the legislature. The ethnically and religiously heterogeneous electorate sympathized with the candidate. Using a linguistic semiotic approach, the analysis results are obtained, and the use of language as a representation of Muslim power is aimed at the diction of “Khadimul Ummah”, or servant of the public. While this study uses a qualitative approach to semiotic analysis, the diction of servant of the public is interpreted using a binary opposition approach. The results of this study show that language creates its identity and becomes a figure of interest to the Balinese people as a representation of Indonesian legislative members in the electoral district of Bali. For most people in Bali, there is a belief that this diction is something that strengthens inter-religious harmony between societies. The significance of this study lies in the fact that language may have symbolic power for both ethnic minority and majority groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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15 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessReview

Surveillance, Disinformation, and Legislative Measures in the 21st Century: AI, Social Media, and the Future of Democracies

by Bilge Azgin and Sevki Kiralp

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(10), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13100510 - 27 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1324

Abstract

In contemporary society, the internet, particularly social media, has become a significant area where individuals spend considerable amounts of time engaging in various activities. Concurrently, the growing utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a critical component of the propaganda that is disseminated online within economic, social, and political spheres. AI encompasses a broad range of applications, including data collection for microtargeting and the dissemination of diverse forms of disinformation. Additionally, AI can be effectively employed to detect and remove content from social media platforms that contradicts democratic principles, such as disinformation or hate speech. This study reviews the existing literature on the use of AI in political propaganda, examining not only how AI has become an integral part of propaganda strategies, but also how it is utilized to counter propaganda that violates democratic values. It explores the legislation in various countries that enables (and mandates) the removal of propaganda content contrary to democratic principles from social media platforms with the assistance of AI, and it discusses perspectives that highlight the potential conflict between these practices and the principle of freedom of expression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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17 pages, 366 KiB

Open AccessEssay

History Matters: The Institutionalization and Innovation Paradox in the Judiciary

by Thiago Maia Sayão de Moraes and Marcos de Moraes Sousa

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(5), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13050247 - 30 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1248

Abstract

The judiciary is a field lacking research in relation to its administration and innovation; however, different theoretical perspectives can be followed. This work reviews this trend while adding to it. An institutional perspective is presented, as is its explanatory potential. This perspective captures the context of the public sector; however, when analyzing its interpretation in terms of innovation, it is revealed to be doubly paradoxical. From the theoretical point of view, institutionalization focuses on the maintenance of processes, while innovation, gradually or abruptly, investigates their disruptions. Nevertheless, institutionalization can be observed as part of the sedimentation of innovation. Institutionalization is presented, in the context of innovation, as a selection mechanism that shapes such innovation. This paradox is presented under the review of organizational institutionalism vis-à-vis innovation and, for its unfolding, considers the adoption of innovation as an adaptation to the prevalent rationalized elements. This presentation is paralleled with the interpretation that innovation is limited by a structure that, sometimes rationalized, forms its trajectory. Considering the social function of the judiciary that is anchored in institutionalism, historical institutionalism is thus added, centrally placing the judiciary in the current institutional matrix and associating its path dependence with the dimensions of its innovation. Based on these outlines, propositions and a suggested agenda for future research are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, and Social Integration in the Contemporary World)

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