The research area of leveraging digital transformation and artificial intelligence for sustaining peace and democracy is highly relevant in today’s world. As digital technologies continue to advance rapidly, they have the potential to significantly impact various aspects of society, including governance, the economy, and social interactions. Every citizen is aware that digital technologies have transformed our individual and collective lives. Scholars from peace research and democratic theorists have started to take stock of this transformation and to trace how democratic theory and institutions should respond (Bernholz, Landemore, & Reich, 2021). Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach
peacebuilding and democratic processes. However, there are also concerns about the potential risks associated with these technologies, such as issues related to privacy, security, and accountability (Thiel, 2022). The United Nations has launched a strategy for the digital transformation of peacekeeping to drive technology innovation and maximise the potential of current and new technologies to help peacekeeping missions carry out their mandates, and ensure the responsible use of digital technologies by peace operations (United Nations, 2022).
Democratic peace theorists argue that digital technologies can enhance democratic processes by increasing citizen participation, promoting transparency, and facilitating the flow of information and they are also concerned about the potential risks associated with these technologies, such as issues related to privacy, security, and the spread of misinformation (Reiter, 2019). There is ongoing research and discussion on this topic, as scholars continue to explore the potential benefits and challenges of these technologies for promoting peace and democracy. It is therefore crucial to carefully consider how we can leverage digital transformation and AI in a responsible and ethical manner to promote peace and democracy.