Research Theme

Democracy, Participation, and Human Rights

Technology has the potential to reshape the foundational principles of societies, including our understanding and conceptualisation of what a democracy is and the rights we have as humans.

Research Projects

Projects undertaken by JBC members in this area include understanding how digital technologies accelerate extremism, studying how artificial intelligence can be utilised to identify disinformation and misinformation campaigns, and modelling the spread of these activities.

The Young Researchers’ Network - Dr Intifar Chowdhury

The Young Researchers’ Network is an initiative developed in the framework of the European Democracy Hub and EPD’s Women and Youth in Democracy WYDE Civic Engagement project, supported by the European Union. Representing Australia and Flinders university at a global stage, Intifar is one of the 12 selected young researchers who are appointed to a three-year programme.

These youth researchers have the opportunity to exchange and learn from scholars, policy makers and the themes of Youth Participation, Civic Engagement and Democracy. Under the initiative, young researchers will ultimately produce a collection of case studies that will be published on the European Democracy Hub website.

Chief Investigator: European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)

Grant Funder: European Commission, European Union

Funding: $17,000

Member Publications

Stockemer, D., & Bordeleau, J.-N. (2025). Does Country Setting Make a Difference?

Stockemer, D., & Bordeleau, J.-N. (2025). Conspiracy Theories and their Believers: A Comparative Outlook. (Elements in Comparative Political Behavior). Cambridge University Press

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Our People

Dr Melissa-Ellen Dowling

A social scientist and a senior lecturer with the JBC. Melissa’s research focuses on the ways in which liberal democracy can be challenged, sustained, and enriched in a digitising world.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: extremist ideologies, political violence, disinformation, foreign interference

Dr Nick Bordeleau

A Research Fellow with the JBC. Nick's research explores the intersection of political behaviour and democracy, and the role of citizens in democracy.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: democracy, elections, conspiracy beliefs, youth in democracy

Dr Leoni Connah

Lecturer in international relations, with research interests in South Asian security, postcolonial politics, human rights and feminism.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: South Asia, Kashmir conflict, feminism, human rights, politics

Dr Intifar Chowdhury

Lecturer in government and youth research, passionate about writing to better the political representation of all young Australians in our democracy.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: policy education, government, housing, politics, voting behaviour, youth, elections, environmental politics

Professor Marinella Marmo

A leading expert on human mobility, human rights and gendered criminology.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: human rights, civil liberties, immigration, modern slavery, transnational crime

Dr Naser Pourazad

A Senior Lecturer in Marketing, focused on strategic brand management, consumer behaviour, and digital transformation through experiential learning approaches.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: business, economics, finance, marketing, digital marketing, strategic brand management

The Jeff Bleich Centre was established to undertake world-leading research, to strengthen the core values and institutions of democratic societies.

Most of our research projects are externally-funded through competitive grants, contracted research, and philanthropic donations. Funding sources have included the Australian Research Council (ARC), SmartSat CRC, Defence, the Office of National Intelligence and the Australian Space Agency.

The JBC encourages and actively promotes collaborative research with national and international institutions. Collaborations have included work with the University of Adelaide, Monash University, Griffith University, the Australian National University, the University of Virginia (USA), Arizona State University, the University of Ottawa, the Victoria Electoral Commission, Defence Innovation Partnership, South Australian Space Industry Centre, the Electoral Commission of Queensland, and the European Space Policy Institute.