Political parties; technological attitudes; cybersecurity; intra-party democracy; digitalization
Abstract :
[en] The digitalization of party organizations has garnered increasing scholarly attention in recent years. This study examines an underexplored area: how individuals working for political parties perceive the cybersecurity threats associated with using digital technologies for intra-party voting procedures. Drawing on survey data collected online in 2021 from three European democracies (Belgium, Italy, and Spain), our analysis reveals that cybersecurity concerns are more pronounced among party actors who (1) are non-elected staffers born before the 1980s, (2) had negative experiences with digital technologies during the COVID-19 crisis, or (3) work for right-wing parties. Our findings highlight the need to avoid technological determinism and call for a more systematic study of cybersecurity challenges in the context of party digitalization.
Disciplines :
Sociology & social sciences
Author, co-author :
PAULIS, Emilien ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Humanities (DHUM) > Philosophy
Kins, Lucas; Department of Political Science, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Barberà, Oscar; Department of Constitutional Law, Political and Administrative Sciences, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Vittori, Davide; Department of Political Science, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
The flip side of digital technologies in internal party elections: a cybersecurity dilemma?
Publication date :
18 February 2025
Journal title :
Innovation: the European Journal of Social Science Research
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