Artificial intelligence, times of crisis, climate change, American politics, and technological development. These are the different themes that emerged in the competition for funds from UiO:Democracy. In total, the board processed 16 applications.
– First, I am very happy that we received so many strong applications for this call. It shows that UiO:Democracy stimulates creativity and new collaborations, says director Tore Rem.
From 2024, there will be nine research groups associated with the initiative.
– This will be a great supplement to the existing research groups, and we are looking forward to the times ahead, says Rem.
Read more about the first four research groups at UiO:Democracy here.
Interest in America
Regardless of whether one views American democracy with love or hate, conversations about American politics often arouse strong reactions, both historically and in the present.
– There is no doubt that there are many feelings connected to American democracy in Norway. We have a close connection with the USA, in conversations about freedom, politics, and society, says project manager Eirinn Larsen.
Together with Professor Hilde Sandvik, she leads the group "Experiencing American Democracy". The research group’s work process has already begun, and the project managers say that the support is highly welcomed.
The research group will examine exchanges between Scandinavia and America on individual, societal, and organizational levels. The aim is to produce new understandings of how and why American democracy still arouses many feelings in conversations about politics in the Nordic countries.
– Between 1820 and 1920, 800,000 Norwegians emigrated to the USA. At that time, the population in Norway was approximately 2 million. In other words, there was a large group of the population that emigrated. Eventually, a third came back, and brought their mindset and political culture with them, says Sandvik.
The role of artificial intelligence in democracies
The group "The AI democracy research group", led by professor of psychology Jonas R. Kunst, and professor of media innovation, Petter Bae Brandtzæg, will investigate the role of artificial intelligence in democratic contexts.
– There is currently a significant need for this type of research. We are experiencing a marked increase in the use of AI systems, such as chatbots, both personally and professionally. However, these systems are not politically neutral. There is still limited knowledge about how the growing use affects political understanding and processes, says Kunst.
He believes that interdisciplinarity within democracy research is essential to ensure a comprehensive and applicable insight.
– The relationship between AI and democracy is both extensive and complex. To better understand these dynamics, we need the perspective of different professional environments.
The support from UiO:Democracy will go towards building up an interdisciplinary research group, appointing two doctoral fellows, and carrying out an extensive research project.
– It means a great deal to have the application approved. We can establish a specialized and interdisciplinary research environment at UiO, which researches a highly relevant and up-to-date topic. Personally, this is also an opportunity to further develop my skills, where I can contribute with psychological perspectives at the intersection between technology and politics, something I have always been passionate about.
Democratic technology
Technology is also a central theme for the research group "Design4Democracy". The research group points out that even though democratic values are highly valued in many societies, the world is witnessing a trend where democracy is on the decline.
– Given reduced resources, it is no wonder that people are looking for opportunities to improve their lives in a more autocratic-leaning system. We believe that technology has a lot to do with this development and that the relationship between democracy and technology – especially the design of technology, is not fully understood, says project manager Alma Leora Culén.
– Therefore, the question that we wish to investigate is the following: Can we, through the design of technology that is transparent, collective, participatory, and human-oriented, achieve a future with a better balance in resource distribution, which also preserves democratic values and strengthens participatory democracy?
Culén believes that interdisciplinary democracy research is essential, as complex problems cannot be solved from one discipline alone.
– In our core group, we have many different skills. This is a fortunate starting point for the project.
Going forward, the group will, among other things, appoint a researcher to the project, carry out fieldwork, and carry out a large survey.
– It is very nice to get the chance to work with something that is meaningful to us, but which can also positively affect democratic values. We also hope to have findings, both professional consequences and practical impacts on the local community, says Culén.
The significance of times of crisis
Wars, economic downturns, climate change, and democracy. Crises follow with time, both before and now. The research group "Stakes of Democracy" will research precisely these themes.
– How are times of crisis apt to tell us about how democracy works? Could times of crisis be understood as a form of ‘stress test’ for the system?
– I think that was well formulated. But it is not just a stress test, because it is also the case that in crises things are put to the test. In other words, we can say that democracy becomes clearer, precisely in crises. This means that we can observe and understand aspects of democracy that may not be as obvious in everyday democracy, says professor and project leader Kristin Asdal.
For the research group, the award means that they can continue to develop collaboration across the faculties of social sciences, humanities, and law.
– The hypothesis is that democracy is much more innovative, epistemically interesting, knowledge-sociologically essential, and, from a natural-political point of view, more innovative than its reputation. We will discuss this with younger researchers and fellows for whom we intend to create courses and seminars. The research group is planning a particularly large activity, so the plan is that many people will hear a lot from us, says Asdal.
Democracy at the tipping point
A crisis that is very real for the global community, is the climate crisis. This is also the theme of the research group "Democrisis". This research group is also well underway with their work.
On 24 January, the lecture series, "Anthropocene", as well as the course “Interdisciplinary Ecology in the Anthropocene” (TFF3219/4219) will start in Domus Bibliotheca. This course is open for registration to all students at UiO and will run through spring 2024.
In addition, a book about precisely the Anthropocene, or the age of man, will be launched in January.
– In short, we can say that the ecological crisis is linked to a crisis for democracy. This is because we must acknowledge that the democratic form of government is a contributing factor to the crisis. Furthermore, democracy, especially with its short time horizons and its dependence on economic growth, is ill-equipped to handle the crisis, says Professor and project leader Marius Mjaaland.
Mjaaland refers to "Democrisis" as a radical interdisciplinary project, which includes researchers from biology, anthropology, theology, philosophy, psychology, and geography. Much of the research is based on questions about when the climate crisis will reach various tipping points - how urgent it is and what the long-term consequences will be.
– The understanding of time is central. There is a mismatch between short-term decisions and long-term consequences here, which we in a democracy must understand. Therefore, we will also look at alternative ways of thinking about democratic governance. For instance, the degrowth and civil disobedience, says Mjaaland.
– Why do you think we need this research?
– I think that this is one of the major crises that our society is facing, nationally as well as internationally. But to take Norway - it is a paradox that the country is recognized as one of the most democratic in the world – as it is so bad at handling environmental challenges. There is an obvious mismatch between the democratic rhetoric and the ecological footprint, with oil production and, quite recently, mining on the seabed.