Projects - Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
Digital Democracy Network
About the Project

Carnegie’s Digital Democracy Network is a diverse group of leading thinkers and activists engaged in work on technology and politics. The network is dedicated to generating original analysis and enabling cross-regional knowledge-sharing to fill critical research and policy gaps.

Programs

Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is a leading source of independent policy research, writing, and outreach on global democracy, conflict, and governance. It analyzes and seeks to improve international efforts to reduce democratic backsliding, mitigate conflict and violence, overcome political polarization, promote gender equality, and advance pro-democratic uses of new technologies.

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Our team

Thomas Carothers

Harvey V. Fineberg Chair for Democracy Studies; Director, Democracy, Conflict and Governance Program

Thomas Carothers, director of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, is a leading expert on comparative democratization and international support for democracy.

Steven Feldstein

Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Steven Feldstein is a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, where he focuses on technology and geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy, and the global context for democracy and human rights.

From the Network

From the Network

Watch videos from members of the Digital Democracy Network, learn more about the network, and meet some of its members from around the world.

All work from Digital Democracy Network

14 Results
commentary
Hard Questions About the EU Lifting Sanctions on an Iranian Tech Company

By removing cloud technology firm Abr Arvan from its sanctions list, the EU has set a concerning—and puzzling—precedent.

  • Mahsa Alimardani
· May 2, 2024
event
New Digital Dilemmas: Resisting Autocrats, Navigating Geopolitics, Confronting Platforms
November 30, 2023

In their new pieces, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Digital Democracy Network experts consider the growing role of technology in politics and society with insight and analysis aimed at bridging the gap between local perspectives and global conversations.

  • +2
  • Mahsa Alimardani
  • Arindrajit Basu
  • Agustina Del Campo
  • Steven Feldstein
  • Iginio Gagliardone
research
New Digital Dilemmas: Resisting Autocrats, Navigating Geopolitics, Confronting Platforms

The Digital Democracy Network’s contributors offer global perspectives on digital repression trends, the role of tech platforms, digital sovereignty, and the impact of geopolitics and governance on technology.

· November 29, 2023
commentary
How Africans Can Prepare for Internet Shutdowns

Activists and citizens must ensure that governments respect their digital rights.

  • ‘Gbenga Sesan
· April 25, 2023
commentary
It’s Time to Revisit the Framing of Internet Shutdowns in Africa

Examining these actions through alternative perspectives could illuminate often-overlooked aspects of these communication blocks.

  • Iginio Gagliardone
  • Nicole Stremlau
· November 21, 2022
In The Media
in the media
Sources of AI Innovation: More than a U.S.-China Rivalry

Differing trends illustrate the fluidity of global AI technology competition and how future alignments will not necessarily be defined by two-country competition between the United States and China.

· June 6, 2022
paper
Government Internet Shutdowns Are Changing. How Should Citizens and Democracies Respond?

As governments find more effective ways to carry out internet shutdowns, citizens and democracies need more effective ways to combat them.

· March 31, 2022
research
Issues on the Frontlines of Technology and Politics

Global political trends in recent years have put to rest any illusions that the relationship between technological innovation and progress in democratic politics would be largely positive. Digital technology is disrupting international politics in myriad ways.

· October 19, 2021
commentary
Sideswiped: Apple, Google, and the Kremlin’s Make-Believe Election

During last week’s Russian elections, the Kremlin put two major Western tech companies on notice: remove content pushed by Putin’s foes or risk being chased out of the market. Sadly, concessions by leading tech companies to authoritarian governments are nothing new. These companies must do better.

· September 23, 2021
In The Media
in the media
Can Democracy Survive the “Splinternet?”

Autocrats have bent the internet to serve anti-democratic purposes. Can democracies halt their march?

· September 1, 2021