At the Antipodes of Deliberative Democracy: Populist Propaganda in the Digital Era

Abstract

This article considers the extent to which the technological revolution of digital communications increases the flow of contrasted information and favors informed choices among the different alternatives and electoral offers. Common phenomena today in forums and social networks such as disinformation or the rise of forms of propaganda more typical of non-democratic systems - with little or no respect for facts and truth - do not seem to contribute to creating a favorable scenario for public deliberation and the active participation of citizens. Without deliberation and participation, it is difficult to have a quality democracy.