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About the Project
The Portulans Institute is pleased to share that we are launching an exciting new research initiative focused on the future of democracy. With generous support from the Reynolds Foundation, the Portulans Democracy Project (PDP) aims to contribute to the global enhancement of democratic institutions, processes, and practices worldwide.
While much discussion worldwide has focused on concerns over democratic backsliding, erosion of trust, and other risks to democracy, this project will focus on the rise of information and communication initiatives that could improve democratic structures and processes. The PDP will identify contemporary but truly novel initiatives at various stages of implementation from anywhere in the world – from actors (e.g., platforms) and institutions to local, national, and regional levels. What are the most innovative types of democratic initiatives and the most potentially transformative among each type? This project aims to shift the narrative and the attention of research to the potential for innovations in democratic processes and institutions as well as providing examples for policy and practice.
The PDP aims to move beyond conventional metrics to identify and analyze forward-looking innovations across diverse levels of governance. Through rigorous research, cross-sector engagement, and the development of accessible, policy-relevant outputs, the PDP seeks to document these innovations and assess their potential to contribute to democratic resilience.
This first phase of the project will focus on the identification and categorization of various democratic initiatives (e.g. government-citizen communication, new approaches to independent journalism, democratic Internet platforms, ‘democratic-AI’), highlighting key examples and best practices. Standout innovations within each category will then be examined through in-depth case studies to critically assess their transformative potential.
While anchored primarily in case studies, this research will also draw on multiple methods, including targeted searches and expert interviews to identify the most promising innovations. The research will be complemented by a set of workshops and forums to critically discuss the current status and potential of democratic innovations.
This research will be supported by the development of a streamlined Democratic Resilience Lab at the Portulans Institute. The Lab’s objective is to develop an AI-enhanced tool that utilizes natural language processing (NLP) analyses to better help understand identified democratic innovations and their components. This tool will help assess democratic innovations in relation to existing indicators of democratic performance, such as those provided by Freedom House, the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Unlike national indices, this study will examine innovations at all levels of governance in a more dynamic way.
In the months ahead, we will be sharing early findings and, and inviting participation in workshops. If you’re working on or aware of a democratic initiative that deserves attention—or simply want to follow the project’s progress—we invite you to stay connected through the Portulans Institute website and LinkedIn. Feedback, suggestions, and ideas are welcome and can be shared by contacting the team at democracy@portulansinstitute.org
The Research Team
William H. Dutton is a political scientist focused on Internet studies. Professor Dutton has studied democratic innovations from the first electronic city hall in the 1980s to his recent work on the power shift of the digital age, The Fifth Estate (OUP, 2023).
Dr. Rafael Escalona Reynoso serves as the CEO of Portulans Institute. In this role, he leads numerous high-profile projects, such as the production of the Network Readiness Index (NRI) and of various regional projects focused on technology, innovation, and human capital development. Rafael possesses a PhD in Regional Planning from Cornell University with a focus on Science and Technology Studies and Risk Analysis. He also has a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Science, Technology, and Infrastructure Policy.
Lisa Chernenko is a DPhil candidate in Social Data Science at the Oxford Internet Institute, Associate Researcher and a Project Lead in the Portulans Institute, where she works as part of the Democratic Innovations and Ukraine Case Studies teams. Her doctoral research is funded by the OII Shirley Scholarship and a Dieter Schwarz Foundation stipend. Lisa’s doctoral research explores strategies to counteract dehumanisation in hostile intergroup dynamics.
Funding for this Research
We extend our sincere thanks to the Reynolds Foundation for its support of this work. Their commitment to advancing freedom and democracy makes this project possible. Learn more at https://www.reynoldsfoundation.com/
Roundtables, Workshops, and Forums
The project is in the process of organizing its first roundtable on innovations in democracies across the world. It will be held in Oxford but organized as a hybrid event to bring in remote contributions. The first roundtable will focus on identifying the major areas of innovations in the informational and communicative innovations in democratic institutions and practices.
Working Papers and Publications
Dutton, W. H., and Chernenko, L, (in progress), ‘Models of Power Shifts of the Digital
Age: Reinforcement, Monitorial Citizenship, and the Fifth Estate’, for the De Gruyter
Handbook of Digital Politics.
