Project description
A new digital era in political campaigns
The role of digital technology in modern political campaigns is increasing, giving rise to a range of issues related to the election process and voter behaviour. Data-driven messages from political parties are more direct and oriented toward individual target groups. However, disinformation towards voter manipulation is also on the rise. The EU-funded DiCED project aims to study the impact that new campaigning techniques have on democratic processes. Starting with defining data-driven campaigning, it will design a new index to compare data-driven techniques used by parties. Finally, it will assess the impact of these new methods on key political actors and assess the longer-term consequences on liberal democracy.
Objective
Overview: This project will set a new agenda and direction for the study of political campaigns. It will examine whether and how new digital technologies are transforming election campaigns and citizen behaviour in new and established democracies. More specifically, it will assess claims that democracies are now entering a new data-driven era of political campaigning that is profoundly reconfiguring how campaigns’ are run, who runs them and their implications for the quality of voter decision-making, the vibrancy of political parties and ultimately, the future of representative democracy. It will do so in three main stages: (1) First, it will define what data-driven campaigning is and critically assess whether it forms new and distinct era of electioneering in conceptual and historical terms? In particular, it will argue that the two key traits of this new mode of campaigning are the increased individualization or micro-targeting of party messages and the automated use of misinformation to mobilize and persuade voters. (2) Based on this definition it will map the ‘supply’ of the new mode of campaigning across new and older democracies by designing an innovative new index to compare use of data-driven techniques by parties. Where is it most commonly seen and why are some parties and countries more likely to promote its growth? (3) Finally, it will assess the impact of these new methods on key political actors and assess the consequences for the longer term future of liberal democracy. Does use of these techniques help counter recent declines in voter turnout by identifying under-mobilized groups? Or, do they ensure parties focus on the already engaged, bypassing those that are harder to reach? Can data-driven campaigning improve citizen choices by giving them the information on the issues they primarily care about or does it help to increase disinformation and even manipulation of voter choices?
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences political sciences political transitions elections
- social sciences political sciences government systems democracy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2018-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
M13 9PL Manchester
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.