“Democracies are more fragile than people may think,” says Professor Rodrigo Praino, Director of the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies (JBC) at Flinders University.
“There are only 29 liberal democracies in the world, which means that almost three out of four people globally are living under a nondemocratic regime.”
Inspired and supported by Jeffrey Bleich, former United States Ambassador to Australia, the Jeff Bleich Centre was established at Flinders University in 2019 to strengthen democratic systems through independent research, community engagement and collaboration with government and industry.
Among existing challenges to democracy, Professor Praino believes digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) pose both significant opportunities and serious threats to democracy, democratic ideals and democratic institutions.
“The rise of disinformation and misinformation, increasing polarisation, declining civic engagement, and disengagement among younger generations are all part of this complex equation impacting democracy,” he explains.
“Now, yet another emerging technology – generative Artificial Intelligence – is disrupting the status quo in unpredictable ways. As a result, there is much more analytical work ahead of us.”
Professor Praino has identified the need to respond to the impacts with independent research on AI and disruptive technologies, space and security, civic engagement and human rights, youth views on democracy, and the influence of both disinformation and misinformation.
The Centre’s work is already making a measurable difference across community, industry, and government sectors.
“At the community level, our programs, events and public research empower individuals to better understand the forces influencing their lives, and to be equipped with tools to navigate information responsibly to safeguard their democracy.
At the policy level, our independent, world-leading research informs national democratic strategies, while our close collaboration with industry and government ensures our work delivers real impact.
"Ultimately, our goal is to strengthen the foundations of a healthy democracy.”
The Centre’s research is supported by competitive grants, contracted research and philanthropic donations, and thanks to a $1.5 million donation in 2024, the Centre has been able to significantly expand its work to strengthen democracy.
“Philanthropic donations provide the flexibility that allows JBC to pursue high-impact research that might otherwise be impossible through traditional grants,” says Professor Praino.
The donation has funded the Visiting Scholar Fellowship, bringing leading global experts to Adelaide to enrich JBC’s research, international collaborations and community engagement through public presentations. Visiting Scholars include Professor Erik S. Herron from West Virginia University (USA), and Dr Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau from the University of Ottawa (Canada) – who has since relocated to Adelaide to be a JBC Research Fellow.
Alongside this program, public events such as the inaugural JBC Distinguished Lecture delivered by former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull AC, allow the Centre to host high-profile discussions with leaders, policymakers and the wider community.
“Public initiatives ensure our research findings are shared widely and meaningfully. They are building Flinders University’s reputation as a trusted thought leader,” says Professor Praino.
“The Jeff Bleich Centre has become the leading expert voice on democracy in South Australia and one the most prominent voices nationally.”
The donation is also enabling the scale and focus needed to make national and international impact, generating new knowledge, evidence-based solutions and practical policy recommendations that will shape the future of democratic societies worldwide.
“This level of support ensures our work remains responsive, relevant, and aligned with real-world democratic challenges,” says Professor Praino.
“Our world-class research has built our reputation internationally as we collaborate globally with governments and industries committed to protecting democratic systems.
"The research is also strengthening communities by making them more informed, more secure, and more resilient.”
Professor Praino believes now is the time for the community to understand what is at stake and what they can do as individuals to safeguard democracy — for this generation and for generations to come.
“Democracy underpins everything we do as a society. If left unprotected, our democracy will quickly look very different from what it is today.
“There has never been a more pivotal time to act.”
