Spotlight on Technopolitics and Ideologies

Technology and ideology are jointly reshaping the foundations of democratic governance: this Spotlight's five curated reads trace how. From the erosion of civic participation through AI-driven power concentration and the unfulfilled promise of technological efficiency, to the dismantling of constitutional checks through unchecked executive authority, the specter of Orwellian geopolitical realignment between major powers, and the fracturing of coalition politics in Germany. These contributions share a common concern: the weakening of the institutional and civic structures that underpin democratic life. Together, they reveal how political power is increasingly exercised through technological systems, ideological entrenchment, and the circumvention of deliberative norms. This collection reflects JOSHA's editorial curation of timely debates at the intersection of technology, politics, and the resilience — or fragility — of democratic accountability.