ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥

This Stretton Institute webinar, co-hosted with the (ERRN)Ìýand the , will bring together a panel of experts to discuss both questions.

In ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, and elsewhere, public trust in democratic institutions is declining. Growing concerns of foreign malign entities amplifying and exploiting this trend through the nascent digital public sphere will be explored, with a focus on ways in which ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥â€™s digitizing democracy is vulnerable.Ìý

We will begin with some discussion of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n electoral context, followed by an exploration of the threats posed to democratic legitimacy and functioning by attempted interference in domestic elections by foreign entities.

It will then be argued that ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥â€™s processes of public engagement are relatively resilient due to hybrid analogue-digital processes, which inadvertently safeguard our electoral system from malign influence. However, research findings also indicate that several modes of participation remain vulnerable at the preference formation and agenda-setting stages of policy development. This poses a risk to: (1) social cohesion, and (2) the integrity of policy outputs.

Dowling and Legrand offer a ground-breaking assessment framework for this threat which is transferable to other democratic systems internationally.

The Expert Panel

Professor Lisa Hill
Professor of Politics
Research Program Director, Democracy, Security, Trust and Integrity
Stretton Institute
The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide
Profile

Associate Professor Tim Legrand
Department of Politics and International Relations
School of Social Sciences
The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide

Dr Melissa-Ellen Dowling
Research Fellow, Department of Politics and International Relations
School of Social Sciences
The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide

Ìý

This webinar is co-hosted with: