The relationship between democracy and digital technology is often cast in pessimistic terms—marked by polarization, misinformation, and online hostility. But what if the same tools that threaten democratic life could also help renew it?

In a recent IGCC blog post, UCR’s own Professor Kevin Esterling, Director of the Laboratory for Technology, Communication, and Democracy (TeCD-Lab), argues that digital technology can, in fact, strengthen democracy—if designed with deliberation in mind.

Drawing on insights from democratic theory and lessons from ancient civic practice, Esterling introduces Prytaneum, a platform developed by TeCD-Lab to promote meaningful, large-scale democratic dialogue. Named after the civic center of ancient Greek city-states, Prytaneum uses AI to summarize and curate public feedback during virtual discussions—helping participants see the diversity of perspectives in the room and engage beyond partisan echo chambers.

“Democracy shouldn’t just mean broadcasting or venting opinions—it’s about mutual understanding and informed debate,” Esterling explains. “Prytaneum is designed to make that possible at the scale of modern society.”

By facilitating deliberation between citizens and their representatives, Prytaneum aims to model a digital public square where people can reason together rather than talk past one another.

The full essay, published by the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC), explores how modern technology—guided by democratic values—can move us closer to this goal.

Read the full article here: Can Digital Tech Actually Help Save Democracy?