Measuring Democratic Quality in a Digitalized World: Epistemological Challenges and a Scientific-Theoretical Response. Fleuß, D., Schaal, G., S., & Helbig, K. Politische Vierteljahresschrift, 60(3):461-486, 2019.
Measuring Democratic Quality in a Digitalized World: Epistemological Challenges and a Scientific-Theoretical Response [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
Processes of digitalization transform all realms of contemporary democratic societies. Our paper explores the consequences of this societal transformation for empirical research on democratic quality. We claim that it is impossible to offer a valid measurement of democratic quality within established conceptual frameworks. What must be addressed to provide the basis for empirical research of digitalized democracies’ quality is the development of adequate theoretical frameworks. For this purpose, researchers have to overcome fundamental epistemic challenges. We outline these challenges from critical rationalism’s perspective and suggest guidelines to develop a democratic theory and a measurement of democratic quality in the age of digitalization.

Downloads: 0