OAFP 9700 - Open Government and Citizen Participation in the Age of AI

This course examines how democratic innovations address complex policy challenges—from

local climate action to global governance—through deliberative and participatory

approaches. We explore Open Government as a framework for embedding participation

throughout the policy cycle, examining how civic technologies enable new forms of

collaborative governance. As artificial intelligence transforms policy making, we investigate

how societies are developing public digital infrastructure and data governance frameworks

that align with democratic values. Throughout the course, we trace the evolution from local

participatory experiments to global governance challenges, exploring how Open

Government approaches might scale to address increasingly complex policy issues. Special

attention is paid to emerging frameworks for governing both digital infrastructure and AI

systems in ways that enhance rather than undermine democratic participation. Through

case studies, practical examples, and critical analysis, the course provides a comprehensive

understanding of how Open Government and democratic innovations can help shape the

future of governance in the AI age.

There are no specific prerequisites for this course. David Van Reybrouck's Against Elections

(2016) and Hélène Landemore’s Open Democracy (2020) are good primers on democratic

innovations. Suggested background readings on civic technologies, and open, democratic

governance of Artificial Intelligence include Tiago Peixoto and Micah Sifry’s Civic Tech in the

Global South (2017) and Aviv Ovadya’s article “Reimagining Democracy for AI” (2023).

The course delivery combines formal lectures and interactive sessions, organised into three

main themes:

• Democratic Innovations: From Crisis Response to Complex Policy Solutions
• Open Government: Embedding Participation Across the Policy Cycle
• Digital Democracy Infrastructure: From Civic Tech to AI Governance

Each theme concludes with a half-session dedicated to student group presentations, which

expands upon the topics and case studies covered in class.

Every session includes a 15-minute discussion of required reading material. Active debate

and dialogue are encouraged throughout the course.

Guest speakers from the field will join selected sessions to present detailed case studies and

share their professional experience.

Course assessment consists of:

● Group presentation (30%): Students will work in groups of four or five to deliver oral

presentations during Sessions 4, 8 and 12. Topics will be assigned during the

introductory session (Session 1).

● Individual assignment (40%): Students will submit a written essay providing a critical

assessment of a case study on artificial intelligence in democratic innovation and/or

participatory governance. The essay must be submitted via Moodle by the end of

term. Detailed guidelines and submission deadlines will be provided during Session

1.

● Class participation and reading comprehension (30%): Students are expected to

contribute actively to class discussions and demonstrate their understanding of the

required readings. This will be done via small class debates, short presentations of the readings.