Guest Lecture at the University of Vienna on Democratic Legitimacy and Digital Technologies

Principal investigator, Assistant Professor Ivan Cerovac, delivered a guest lecture at the Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna on April 3rd, 2025. His talk titled “Democratic Legitimacy in a Digital Age” was part of the Philosophy of Technology course led by Professor Mark Coeckelbergh.

Cerovac’s lecture examined the influence of digital technologies on democratic processes, focusing on how these developments reshape the legitimacy of political decision-making. Drawing on a Millian framework, he proposed a normative approach to assessing the effects of digital tools on the quality and fairness of democratic procedures.

The presentation contributed to ongoing debates about the role of technology in shaping modern democracies, offering a philosophical perspective on the conditions under which digitally mediated processes can enhance or undermine democratic legitimacy.

Cerovac also participated in meetings with Mark Coeckelbergh and members of his research team, discussing new directions in the research field, potential collaborations and joint project applications, as well as a range of related topics.