The Level of Digitalization and the Development of Democracy in Different Countries of the World: A Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the potential for different countries to develop digital democracy, based on their level of digitalization and democratization. To do this, we conducted a quantitative analysis using methods such as correlation and clustering. The correlation analysis revealed a mod-erate positive relationship between digitalization and democratic development, with a correlation coefficient of 0.56 using a Pearson test. Clustering analysis identified four clusters of countries, based on their propensity for digital democracy. These clusters include North America, Western Europe, Northern Europe, and a few countries in Eastern and Southeast Asia, which have the high-est levels of digitalization and democracy. On the other hand, the cluster that is least likely to em-brace digital democracy consists primarily of authoritarian states in Asia and Africa. These coun-tries have a wide range of digitalization levels, indicating a greater tendency towards digital autocra-cy rather than democracy. The paper provides examples of digital authoritarianism and reveals the limitations of the research results stemming from the possible incomplete objectivity of the Democ-racy Index.