Online participation processes are not only one of the most important research topics of the DIID, but have also been conducted here regularly since its foundation. In order to be on the cutting edge of technology, the DIID now uses adhocracy+, an open source software. It is primarily developed by Liquid Democracy e.V. and enables the simple creation and implementation of participation processes.
In cooperation with Liquid Democracy e.V., the DIID implemented this software on the servers of the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and developed a connection to the login system of the university, so that a login via the university ID is possible.
First and foremost, the DIID has set up the platform dialog@hhu, on which participation procedures at and for the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf will take place. A first procedure regarding the reform of the study programs at the Institute of Social Sciences will start soon. In addition, other platforms can be installed and used. This has already happened with meinfernsehen2021. There, the DIID is conducting a participation procedure on the future of public television in cooperation with the Grimme Institute and the Federal Agency for Civic Education.
On the one hand, the DIID is now able to create and carry out participation processes quickly and easily, thus expanding its practical expertise. On the other hand, the platforms and the respective participation procedures themselves can be understood as attractive objects of research, since they can be structured, designed and evaluated according to one’s own ideas. Therefore, this also contributes to DIID’s research on the opportunities and risks of digitization for civic participation.
Ansprechpartner
Jonathan Seim
DIID-Team, Philosophy
Jonathan Seim is a research associate at DIID, responsible for the coordination of the institute. He is also a research associate in the Digital Ethics project at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS). His position is financed by project funds from Stiftung Mercator. Previously, he studied political science and philosophy at HHU-Düsseldorf and at the University of the West of Scotland. His research focuses on moral philosophy and political philosophy, especially the theory of democracy. His dissertation in philosophy deals with democratic participation rights in citizen participation processes. Even though a correct distribution of participation rights is of fundamental importance for the legitimacy of the procedures, this question is neither sufficiently addressed in politics nor in science. The aim of the dissertation project is to develop criteria for the allocation of participation rights in consultative citizen participation procedures and practical recommendations for action.
In the context of DIID, his interest is focused on the legitimacy conditions of online participation.