Abstract: Based on the book Borgeren i den digitale velfærdsstat (https://unipress.dk/media/kwxf0ql4/9788775978038_borgeren-i-den-digitale-velfaerdsstat.pdf) part of the Danish Power and Democracy Study (Magtudredningen 2.0), this talk starts from the claim that digitalization is one of the most far-reaching societal transformations of recent times. Today, it is a fundamental condition of life for citizens in Denmark that they must use digital systems such as e-Boks, MitID, and sundhed.dk to access essential welfare rights and services and be able to participate actively e.g. as parents in daycare and schools.
The Citizen in the Digitalized Welfare State examines how public sector digitalization has transformed the relationship between citizens and the state. Citizens’ opportunities depend on technical skills and digital procedures, while the work of welfare professionals changes as technology becomes an active participant in communication and decision-making processes. Digitalization thus shifts responsibilities, roles, and power, making it an important democratic issue and concern.
Bio: Irina Papazu is Associate Professor in the Technologies in Practice research group at the IT-University of Copenhagen. Her research examines, first, how democracy and the state are changed by public digitalization, and second, the role of public participation in green societal transformations.