This comprehensive volume examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can either strengthen or undermine democratic society. It introduces groundbreaking frameworks including “AI-Enhanced Reflexive Control” (AIRC), and categorizes vulnerable democracies into three types — underdeveloped, strained, and stressed — each of which facing unique AI-related challenges.
Drawing on extensive case studies including Romania’s 2024 election annulment, Bulgaria’s disinformation networks, and democratic innovations in Kenya and the Philippines, contributors analyze AI’s impact across electoral processes, legal systems, and public discourse. The book systematically examines five critical categories of unethical AI applications — disinformation, electoral interference, human rights manipulation, cultural exploitation, and privacy invasion — while exploring AI’s potential as a democratic equalizer.
Featuring accessible introductions to AI topics, real-world case studies, and actionable policy recommendations, this volume serves as an essential guide for policymakers, technologists, and those studying AI’s complex relationship with democratic governance.