On the first webinar of the Autumn 2026 series, we welcomed Dr Gabriela Borz from University of Strathclyde who presented “Digital political literacy across Europe”. Drawing on data from citizens across all EU member states, the research examines how digital political literacy shapes democratic engagement and resilience.
This session explored:
- What digital political literacy is and the key skills, attitudes and knowledge it includes.
- Why it matters for democracy and democratic resilience
- How this influences voting intentions and support for democratic values
Presentation Abstract
This talk introduces the concept of digital political literacy as a combination of functional skills, analytical skills and attitudes towards online electoral political content. Data analysis of an original citizen survey conducted across 27 European Union member states shows that digital political literacy is permeable to three different dimensions: functional, analytical and attitudinal. Digital political literacy is positively associated with democratic resilience. The functional and attitudinal components of digital political literacy are positively associated with voting intention and support for democratic principles. The analytical literacy does not increase turnout or support for democratic principles, but its negative impact tones down when individuals understand their civic duties. All in all, the results justify the case for improving digital political literacy and civic education across democratic societies.
Presenter Biography
Gabriela Borz is Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow / Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca. Gabriela specialises in comparative politics, specifically EU governance, digital democracy, party organisation, regulation and political behaviour. Her work has appeared in journals such as European Union Politics, the British Journal of Political Science, Party Politics or European Political Science Review. Her latest project, DIGIEFFECT, Digital Political Campaigning: Regulatory Effectiveness through the Eyes of Citizens, examines the risks of digital political campaigning in the European Union.