HPI study: Path to Power

Prof. Estariol de la Paz heads the "Path to Power" team at HPI, which has spent the past year developing a comprehensive picture of the state of democracy worldwide, focusing on nine countries.

The research findings include the following: Disruptive technologies challenge traditional political processes and make democratic processes even more difficult. Digital communication spreads hatred and drives polarization, threatens democratic unity and exacerbates social scapegoating of minority groups.

There is an urgent need for cooperation between the state and platforms to combat online toxicity and ensure public safety, provided that both parties commit to upholding democratic norms and not pursuing their partisan interests. The team's work is funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).