COVID-19 and Digital Transformation of Politics

Abstract

Digital political parties entered the political arena in first quarter of twenty-first century as an alternative to the representation crisis of traditional political parties. The purposes of digital parties are to realize direct democracy and increase of participation through internet channels. The proliferation of digital politic techniques will contribute to the politics in pandemic period. Many political activities are cancelled all through the world because of COVID-19 pandemic and in most countries the elections are postponed to uncertain dates. The governments take serious precautions to prevent the pandemic and people are concerned about the changes of regimes from democracy to authoritarianism. The digital parties which are formed to realize direct democracy, to increase political participation, transparency and digital political techniques create alternatives to unhygienic face to face politics and risky crowded meetings. The argument of the article is to recommend digital politics; as an alternative to conventional politics through information communication techniques and to support the protection of democracy which is in recession since many of democracy practices such as elections, meetings are postponed to uncertain dates in many countries in COVID-19 period.