Exploring the Frontiers of Democratic Innovations – Midterm TRUEDEM Conference 2024 

The TRUEDEM Conference, titled "Exploring the Frontiers of Democratic Innovations," brought together a distinguished group of scholars, political practitioners, and experts to delve into critical challenges and innovations shaping contemporary democratic governance.  Held on September 11, 2024, at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, the conference placed a particular emphasis on the themes of political trust, democratic innovations, and the impact of electoral processes on public confidence in institutions.

The event began with welcoming remarks by Andreja Jaklič, Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Christian Haerpfer, Project Director of TRUEDEM. The opening keynote address was delivered by Danica Fink-Hafner from the University of Ljubljana. Her presentation, titled "AI – Undermining or Nourishing Democracy?" explored the dual potential of artificial intelligence to either erode or strengthen democratic systems. This thought-provoking talk offered a timely analysis of the intersection between technology and governance, framing many of the day's subsequent discussions.

The morning session continued with a roundtable discussion moderated by Meta Novak from the University of Ljubljana and Frédéric Gonthier from the University of Grenoble Alpes. This discussion, titled "Advances and Challenges in Democratic Innovations: Experiences from the Local to European Level," featured an engaging panel of speakers. These included Tadej Beočanin, Mayor of Ajdovščina; Sabina Lange from the European Institute for Public Administration; Miran Lavrič from the University of Maribor; Anja Mihelič Debeljak, an expert in participatory governance; and Zoran Grozdanov from the Organisation for Participatory Society. The panelists shared their experiences and insights on democratic innovations across different levels of governance, addressing both the opportunities and challenges encountered in advancing participatory practices within local municipalities and European frameworks. 

In the afternoon, the conference shifted its focus to political trust, with Challenges to Political Trust moderated by Damjan Lajh from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The panel featured a distinguished lineup of scholars presenting cutting-edge research on factors influencing public trust in democratic institutions. Lars Vinther Johanssen from Aarhus University, Denmark, explored the relationship between corruption and trust in central administration. Marko Hočevar from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, examined how economic inequality and liberal democracy impact political trust in the 21st century. Simon Delakorda from the Institute for Electronic Participation, Slovenia, discussed institutional trust in public policies concerning the digital transformation of Slovenia. Finally, Jakub Charvát and Ladislav Cabada from Metropolitan University Prague, Czech Republic, presented their research on the interplay between trust, populist challenges, and legislative power in Central Europe. 

A highlight of the conference was a virtual lecture by Pippa Norris, Co-Principal Investigator of the TRUEDEM Project and Professor at Harvard University. Her lecture, titled "A Virtuous Circle Redux: The Media & Trustworthiness in the Digital Age," offered a forward-looking exploration of how media consumption influences public trust in institutions in an increasingly digital world. Norris provided thought-provoking insights into the evolving dynamics of trustworthiness and the role of media in shaping public perceptions. 

The conference concluded with panel European Elections and Trust in Institutions, moderated by Céline Belot from PACTE – Sciences Po Grenoble, France. This session explored the implications of the 2024 European Parliament elections for trust in European institutions, featuring a diverse panel of scholars analyzing electoral outcomes and their broader significance. Christian Haerpfer from the Institute for Comparative Survey Research, Austria, presented a cross-national analysis of the 2024 European Parliament elections in all EU member states, highlighting key trends and results. Katjana Gattermann from the Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, discussed the electoral performance of far-right parties and the perceived threats of disinformation during these elections. Claudiu D. Tufiș from the Department of Political Science, University of Bucharest, Romania, examined the unique dynamics of the 2024 elections in Romania, focusing on how combining them with local elections aimed to prevent extremists from gaining seats in the European Parliament. Finally, Aneta Világi from the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, Slovakia, provided insights into the paradox of pro-European success in Slovakia’s 2024 European Parliament elections.