Center for the Study of Democracy

In recent years, researchers in human-centered computing and adjacent fields have increasingly found themselves encouraged to highlight "real-world impacts" in their work; by funders, by their departments, and by publication venues. But given low incentives to do so in practice, and especially compared to publication and other academic-focused requirements, most academics tend to spend time and effort within their own scholarly ecosystems, publishing at key venues and presenting to familiar faces. On the one hand, this produces deep, rigorous scholarship and a sense of professional community. On the other hand, the research itself also stays within the boundaries of the immediate academic community.

The accelerating convergence of geopolitical instability and rapid digital transformation poses unprecedented challenges for national resilience, particularly in countries undergoing societal transition. Motivated by Ukraine’s dual struggle to defend against Russian aggression while advancing digital infrastructure, this paper examines how civil-military resource trade-offs affect the ability to maintain essential services and defend against cyber threats during a crisis. We identify institutional, financial, technological, and social barriers to cyber resilience, highlighting how resource allocation can enhance or undermine adaptive capacity. Building on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we propose a strategic framework for resource allocation that prioritizes the prevention of cascading loss across military and civilian systems. By conceptualizing resources as interdependent assets, we show how poorly managed trade-offs can trigger long-term vulnerability, while synergistic investments can generate resilience “gain spirals.” We argue that national resilience requires integrated governance, anticipatory planning, and whole-of-society engagement to avoid destabilizing feedback loops. Our framework offers actionable guidance for governments navigating the complex terrain of digital resilience, security policy, and economic development in an increasingly volatile world.

Academic freedom faces threats worldwide, including in some democracies that have traditionally been viewed as bastions of free universities. In the 21st century, academic freedom has declined in 20 (former) democracies, ranging from slow deterioration to abrupt collapse. Previous research shows that attacks on academic freedom are systematically linked to democratic backsliding. However, in some democracies that experience backsliding, academia remains autonomous. We employ data from the Varieties of Democracy project, utilizing the Episodes of Regime Transformation dataset and the Academic Freedom Index, alongside data on decline and growth episodes in academic freedom. Through an explorative study design, we analyse various political and academia-related determinants of academia’s resilience amidst democratic backsliding. Our analysis shows that an autocratization episode reduces academic freedom resilience only slightly to levels between 96.7% and 95.5% for a given country-year, compared to over 99.5% for country-years without such episodes. Overall, our analysis highlights remarkable academic resilience.

Abstract This study introduces the Dynamic Intermediary Model (D[X]IM) to address how knowledge processes have evolved with digital platforms by shifting from a dyadic to a triadic communication model of content flow with a potential intermediary. This intermediary, which can be a journalist, influencer, artificial agent, or another platform actor, provides services to the source and recipient of a message, thereby transforming traditional direct communication. It aims to better understand information diffusion in the networked public sphere by recognizing the intermediary’s role in altering source-recipient dynamics. The D[X]IM applies across different communication levels (macro, meso, and micro) and is designed for empirical research using diverse methodologies. It focuses on single instances of platform communication to explore the impact of intermediated communication. The article concludes with a research agenda and examples of how D[X]IM can be applied in empirical research.

Abstract Enlargement is seemingly back on the list of EU priorities. It took a war for it to happen! Indeed, it has been over a decade since the last EU enlargement with Croatia. Other Western Balkan countries have been (im)patiently queuing in the EU’s foyer, waiting for Godot, who never comes despite the promises of his arrival. Meanwhile, Türkiye, an EU candidate country since 1999, dropped out of the league, being almost wiped off the enlargement map after the stalemate in its negotiations with the Union. The EU’s progress with the Western Balkan countries – for which the European perspective was unequivocally confirmed over two decades ago – has stalled due to various issues, including unresolved bilateral disputes. Yet, requesting settlement of bilateral disputes that fall outside the scope of EU law and the jurisdiction of EU courts to reach solutions that can be rejected once the candidate country becomes an EU Member State is rather vain. The current situation is disheartening, underscoring the necessity for a revised approach in the pre-accession process that promotes solidarity, peaceful coexistence, and genuine friendship among states.