Report on the lecture by Prof Dr Holger Mey
Part of our series "The future of democracy"

Democracy is facing profound challenges in the 21st century - and also unprecedented opportunities. One of the key drivers of this change is the rapid pace of technological development. Digitalisation, artificial intelligence, automation and other technological innovations are not only changing the economy and the world of work, but also the way in which we communicate, inform ourselves, participate politically and ultimately exercise power. Technologies are increasingly permeating more and more areas of life and are therefore also putting the foundations of democratic societies to the test.

Against this backdrop, the question of how democracy and technology relate to each other is becoming increasingly important. Can technological advances help to make democratic processes more inclusive, efficient and transparent? Or is there a risk of a loss of control, participation and trust in the digital age? How can technology serve democratic values - instead of undermining them? These questions were the focus of the lecture by Prof. Dr Holger Mey, who examined the complex interactions between technological progress and democratic order as part of the "Future of Democracy" lecture series on 27 May 2025. The event was moderated by Julia Werner (SW&D).

Democratic promises in the digital age

In a mixture of analysis, historical references and personal reflection, Mey succeeded in identifying the key opportunities and risks of modern technologies for democratic societies.

His presentation centred on the question "How do we want to use technology?". Finding an answer to this question is crucial, as we are in a key phase of shaping the future. In her introduction, Dr Astrid Kuhn, CEO and Managing Director of SW&D, therefore also addressed the question of how technologies can contribute to the fulfilment of democratic promises and where fundamental challenges exist at the same time. Democracy promises prosperity through a prosperous economy, social equality, political participation and a state capable of taking action. Modern technologies offer numerous potentials to fulfil these promises: they can contribute to solving urgent problems such as the shortage of skilled workers or an ageing society, increase the efficiency of state institutions and enable new forms of political participation. Digital tools such as e-voting, online petitions or virtual citizens' councils allow citizens to participate in politics quickly, directly and with a low threshold. New spaces are also opening up for public discourse: digital media can help to broaden and pluralise public discourse - democratisation through technology, as Prof. Dr Holger Mey called it.

Dynamics of digitalisation that threaten democracy

At the same time, Mey warned urgently of the risks associated with this development. Technology is not good or bad per se - its effect depends on how it is utilised socially and politically. Digital change could also favour dynamics that endanger democracy: Disinformation, manipulation by social bots and deepfakes, algorithmically controlled filter bubbles, increasing polarisation and a digital divide in society pose serious threats. Added to this is the concentration of power in a few tech companies - the de facto gatekeepers of the digital space. Europe urgently needs to secure its digital sovereignty in order to survive geopolitical competition.

Technology as an evolutionary adaptation - and as a design mandate

Another central theme of the lecture was the realisation that technological development is part of the natural adaptation of humans to their environment. According to Mey, technology is a kind of evolutionary response to new challenges, comparable to biological adaptation processes - only much faster. Humans have developed tools and machines in order to survive, improve themselves and shape their environment. Technological progress cannot be stopped. It is more important to actively discuss how society deals with technology - and not just be passively at the mercy of developments. Democratic societies must put themselves in a position to consciously navigate technological developments and shape them ethically and normatively.

In this context, Mey also addressed the role of language models such as ChatGPT. AI-supported systems are also challenging the traditional education system, for example: If students increasingly write their papers with the help of AI, alternative examination formats will have to be considered, such as oral examinations or project work. This is not only a technical issue, but also a question of educational ethics. At the same time, he admitted that AI-supported systems also challenge the traditional education system: If students increasingly write their papers with the help of AI, alternative examination formats would have to be considered, such as oral examinations or project work. This is not only a technical issue, but also a question of educational ethics.

Security policy perspectives on technological innovation

In the second part of his presentation, Mey focussed on specific technological developments with security policy relevance. From his perspective as an expert in security and defence policy, he emphasised that any technology is only as useful as the purpose it serves. The question is therefore not "Technology - yes or no?", but "How do we use it intelligently and creatively?". Mey emphasised that technological innovations are often complementary rather than substitutive. The example of the armed forces shows that new weapons technologies (such as drones or cyber weapons) do not completely replace existing means, but rather complement them - even in the age of digital warfare, for example, tanks are still used for operations. An "offensive-defensive race" is unfolding in which every innovation leads to countermeasures - and every new defence technology in turn provokes new forms of attack.

Technological disruption and geopolitical power shifts

Mey also emphasised that technological development is not linear. Forecasts based on trend extrapolation could overlook disruptive inventions that fundamentally change the existing order. The example of the introduction of the car showed how quickly technological upheavals can turn existing assumptions upside down. Assumptions about a natural limit to transport speed and range, for example. This is all the more true today with regard to so-called megatrends such as artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology and biotechnology - the potential fusion of which will bring about enormous social, economic and security policy upheavals.

Superhuman intelligence and the moral compass

Mey's reflection on the long-term implications of artificial intelligence was particularly impressive. Machines are already physically stronger than humans, now they could also become intellectually superior. The development of artificial intelligence reminds us that the human brain did not invent intelligence - rather, intelligence was evolutionary and the brain was a means of realising it. Accordingly, it cannot be ruled out that digital systems could one day develop their own, superhuman intelligence. But intelligence alone is not enough: it is also about reason, values, ethics and responsibility. Technology without a moral compass can have a destructive effect - as the history of the 20th century with its ideological and technological excesses has impressively demonstrated.

Shaping democracy - not just administering it

In his closing speech, Prof Dr Holger Mey emphasised that democracy is a "terribly inefficient form of government" - albeit the best one we know. This is precisely why it is all the more important to think about democracy and technology together. There needs to be social negotiation about how we want to use technology, who we give what decision-making power to and how we maintain democratic control in the digital age. Technology is a tool - but not an end in itself. And like any tool, it must be placed in responsible hands.

Prof. Dr Holger Mey's lecture was a powerful appeal to political judgement in an age of technological upheaval. He combined analytical knowledge with socio-political reflection - and left no doubt that shaping the digital modern age is a profoundly democratic task.

Both the presentation and the subsequent discussion encouraged the audience to engage in a lively debate on the evening's topic. The complexity of the questions and comments suggested that the audience is looking forward to the effects of technological developments on democracy with great interest. At the same time, it became clear that political science analyses and classifications are of particular relevance in times of rapid change.

If you were unable to attend the events or would like to watch the event again in more detail, you can watch the presentation in the following video.

Video recording

Impressions from the lecture