Background
“Most near-future fictions are boring. It’s always dark and always raining, and people are so unhappy.”
— Haruki Murakami
Presentation Video
Overview
What We Did
A global survey of Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), National Democratic Institute (NDI), International Republican Institute (IRI), and National Endowment for Democracy (NED)’s global partners and other democratic reformers conducted by Ipsos
What it Means for You
- Inform: Broaden understanding of what a positive future of democracy could look like in the digital age.
- Inspire: Use insights to inspire tangible action locally and provide ideas for the global internet governance and development community to collectively strengthen democracy.
Survey Methodology
Respondents
- 518 democratic reformers from 97 countries were interviewed who are part of the CIPE, NDI, IRI, and NED network.
Collection Dates
- May 3 to June 22, 2022
Methodology:
- Online surveys in 6 languages (English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, and Mandarin)
- Survey link was sent by CIPE, NDI, IRI, and NED staff to their community of democratic reformers.
- Ipsos sent reminders to the respondents.
Note: All results are expressed as a percentage (%)
Significance level: 95% significance
Profile of the Respondents
518 Democratic Reformers Reached**
* Respondents from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Mauritania, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia
** Total is superior to 518 because MENA Region respondents are counted in Africa and Asia Pacific
Age & Gender of Respondents
Question “What is your age?” / “How would you describe your gender identity?”
Respondents Affiliation
Question “What type of organization do you work for?”
Respondents Level of Political, Economic and Social Freedoms
Question “How would you generally describe the political, economic, and social freedoms in the country you live in?”
Question “How would you generally describe the political, economic, and social freedoms in the country you live in?”
Survey Results
The Influence of the Internet on Democracy and Rights in Their Country
Question “How would you rate the influence of the Internet on democracy and rights in your country?”
The Influence of the Internet on Democracy and Rights in Their Country — By Region
Question “How would you rate the influence of the Internet on democracy and rights in your country?”
The Type of Government That Has Benefited More From the Internet and Digital Technologies
Question “Which type of government has, in general, benefited more from the Internet and digital technologies and used them more effectively to increase its strength and justify its system of governance?”
The Type of Government That Has Benefited More From the Internet and Digital Technologies — By Region
Question “Which type of government has, in general, benefited more from the Internet and digital technologies and used them more effectively to increase its strength and justify its system of governance?”
The Most Important Ways in Which Technology Can Be Used as a Force for Good
Question “In your opinion, what are the most important ways in which technology can be used as a force for good?”
Worries About the Intersection of Democracy and Technology
Question “What worries you most about the intersection of democracy and technology, currently and in envisioning the next decade?”
Worries About the Intersection of Democracy and Technology — By Region
Question “What worries you most about the intersection of democracy and technology, currently and in envisioning the next decade?”
The Key Principles or Values That Should Underpin a Democratic Future in the Digital Age
Question “In your opinion, what are the key principles or values that should underpin a democratic future in the digital age?”
The Key Principles or Values That Should Underpin a Democratic Future in the Digital Age — By Region
Question “In your opinion, what are the key principles or values that should underpin a democratic future in the digital age?”
The Applications of Technology That Could Be Beneficial for Democracy in the Future
Question “Do you think these potential applications of technology would be beneficial for democracy in the future?”
The Applications of Technology That Could Be Beneficial for Democracy in the Future — By Region
Question “Do you think these potential applications of technology would be beneficial for democracy in the future?”
Mechanisms or Channels That Could Be Helpful to Bridge the Gap Between Technology and Society in the Future
Question “Given that technological innovation often outpaces society’s understanding of technology as well as the regulations that govern technology, do you think the following mechanisms or channels would be helpful to bridge the gap in the future?”
Effective Ways To Shape Global Norms and Standards That Strengthen Trust in Future Applications of Technology
Question “What are effective ways to shape global norms and standards that strengthen trust in future applications of technology?”
Effective Ways To Shape Global Norms and Standards That Strengthen Trust in Future Applications of Technology — By Region
Question “What are effective ways to shape global norms and standards that strengthen trust in future applications of technology?”
“What local, regional, or global initiatives, organizations, or individuals give you hope for a future of democracy that is improved through technology?
How have they used technology to positively enable democracy, and why do they inspire you?”
Next Steps
- Factsheet
- Global multistakeholder focus group
- Local consultations in two countries
- International conferences
