(When) Does Online Democracy Promotion Work: A Cross-National Experiment

• In Event: Explaining Citizen Support for Democratic Norms and Values

Abstract

Democracy promotion are important efforts in strengthening the resilience of existing and new democracies. However, little is known 1) whether these programs can be conducted online (instead of traditionally in-person) and 2) whether there are contextual differences in the impact of these interventions. Our project aims to answer these questions through online experiments, which will be conducted in 30 countries, representing varying levels of democratic and economic development. Respondents will be recruited via social media and will be randomly shown one of three treatment videos, promoting different aspects of democracy (civic rights, separation of power, provision of economic and public goods) or a placebo treatment, before answering a series of questions about their understanding and support for democracy and autocracy. We expect that the national context of respondents to influence the impact of our interventions, whereby the effects should be strongest if respondents face a democratic or developmental deficit. Our study will be the most comprehensive study ever conducted in the field of civic education, allowing us to explore why democracy promotion works better in some countries than others.

Authors

• Anja Neundorf, Unveristy of Glasgow

• Steven E. Finkel, University of Pittsburgh

• Aykut Ozturk, University of Glasgow

• Ericka Rascon Ramirez, Middlesex University