May 11, 2022
University of Rijeka

11. – 13. 5. 2022.
Center for Advanced Studies – South East Europe, University of Rijeka

Keynote speakers:
Paolo Gerbaudo (King’s College London)
Walter Quattrociocchi (Sapienza University of Rome)
Michele Sorice (LUISS University of Rome)
Mislav Žitko (University of Zagreb)

The first phase of the Internet was characterized by a “horizontal” and “anarchic” situation: everyone could post ideas on websites and blogs, everyone could surf without filters. Websites, forums and blogs produced a continuous flow of communication, and the old mass media intermediaries seemed to be overcome. The second phase of the Internet, which we are currently experiencing, is characterized by a “vertical” environment. A few platforms (the GAFAM – Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft) host, filter, intermediate and govern the communications of billions of individual users. These platforms, however, appear to have serious design flaws. Data commodification for purposes of algorithmic personalization invite significant ethical, political and epistemological questions. They appear to incentivize polarization, gamify public discourse and amplify far-right content and fake news. On the other hand, regulating their content is no easy task, and at times leads to silencing of the debate or legitimate political activism. Another way to meet the challenges of digital democracy has been by designing new civic and party participation platforms – however, the research is required to assess whether they succeed in realizing the ideals of involving citizens or party activists in reliable deliberation, or is their impact insufficient?

The current crisis of democracy will not be overcome by a return to old institutional designs and traditional public spheres, but by designing and developing systemic upgrades. This Summer School intends to explore the risks and potentials of web politics, investigating how the viability of democratic ideals (freedom, autonomy, pluralism, truth, participation, etc.) can change in the digital media ecosystem, and how can we build decision-making environments and institutions capable of defending and promoting the power, autonomy and knowledge of the citizens in our democracies.

Academic Board
Mauro Barberis, University of Trieste, Italy
Petar Bojanić, University of Rijeka, Croatia, and IFDT University of Belgrade, Serbia
Sanja Bojanić, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Paolo Coppola, University of Udine, Italy
Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Luca Taddio, University of Udine, Italy
Gazela Pudar Draško, IFDT University of Belgrade, Serbia

Organisation Board
Gabriele Giacomini, University of Udine, Italy
Marko-Luka Zubčić, University of Rijeka, Croatia

You can find the program here:
Digital Democracy Summer School 22 – program

Summer School will take place at the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86882011793?pwd=YzZFMkNxd0tzSklTNDl1d0wrNXYrQT09

Meeting ID: 868 8201 1793
Passcode: 602686