Lecture Series and Panel FS 2025 by University of Zurich Blockchain Center

Lecture Series Fall25 ——

"Cybernetic Governance & Democracy" by Dr Andrej Zwitter

Professor at University of Groningen, Netherlands

"Democratizing Election Campaign Financing with a DAO" by

Dr Uwe Serdült

Professor at Ritsumeikan University, Japan & PI at ZDA, UZH

Co-organized by UZH Blockchain Center and DAO Suisse

Speaker:

Dr Andrej Zwitter | Professor at University of Groningen, Netherlands

Dr Uwe Serdült | Professor at Ritsumeikan University, Japan & PI at ZDA, UZH

When: 25 February 2025 18:15-20:00
Where: [Hybrid] RAI-F-041, University of Zürich, Rämistrasse 74, 8006 Zürich | Online via Zoom

Abstract for "Cybernetic Governance & Democracy"

Governance and regulation theories in political science and international relations must evolve to address the challenges of an increasingly digital society. Rapid technological advancements—especially the convergence of digital, biological, and cybernetic systems exemplified by human augmentation—are outpacing traditional regulatory efforts. This accelerated convergence exposes a critical gap: existing ethical and legal frameworks struggle to accommodate the simultaneous emergence of multiple, often incompatible, governance paradigms. Moreover, prevailing reductionist philosophies (e.g., TESCREALism) may further predispose these convergences toward centralized, autocratic command and control systems.
To address this gap, this presentation draws on insights from cybernetics—a field that has historically informed control theory yet remains underexplored within social and political sciences. By conceptualizing cybernetic governance as a flexible framework that emphasizes efficiency, coordination, and control, I examine how the intertwining processes of technological and governance convergence could reduce democratic freedoms in favor of more rigid normative regulation (what I term the “Normierung des Menschlichen”). Ultimately, this analysis seeks to offer a novel perspective on the potential autocratic implications of digital transformation and to suggest pathways for integrating cybernetic principles into future governance frameworks.

Author Bio:

Professor Dr. Andrej Zwitter is Professor of Political Theory and Governance and Chair of Governance and Innovation at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. His research focuses on digital governance, big data ethics, and the political and legal challenges posed by technological change. He examines how digital transformation influences public policy, international relations, and humanitarian action. In addition to his research, Prof. Zwitter has contributed to academic program development as founding dean of the University College Fryslân and by establishing the BSc programme in Global Responsibility and Leadership. He also serves on several advisory boards and has been involved in a range of national and European research projects. His work offers a critical perspective on contemporary challenges in governance, emphasizing the need for robust frameworks to manage digitalization and its societal impacts.

Abstract for "Democratizing Election Campaign Financing with a DAO"

While elections are not the only factor, they are arguably one of the most important pillars for the functioning of liberal democracies. Recent evidence from around the world shows that conducting free and fair elections is not a straightforward process. One perennial concern is the role of financial contributions to political campaigns. In the United States in particular, economists and legal scholars have proposed the use of vouchers to finance campaigns. Taking the concept of campaign vouchers one step further into the realm of blockchain technology seems straightforward. However, one can also imagine discussing this idea as a DAO. Furthermore, it would be interesting to observe whether users exhibit altruistic behavior, following principles of equality and fairness, or whether they follow a winner-takes-all mentality. For this talk, I will use recent survey data as an illustration.

Author Bio:

Since April 2017 Dr Uwe Serdült has been working as a professor at Ritsumeikan University, Japan, in the College of Information Science and Engineering, while keeping some projects as a PI at the Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (ZDA), University of Zurich, Switzerland. At Ritsumeikan University, he is also running the Digital Governance Systems Lab (https://dgovsys.org). In this dual position, he teaches and does interdisciplinary research in several domains of digital democracy. He is particularly interested in internet-based platforms and tools for citizens (e-participation) as well as public administrations (e-government), enhancing transparency and deliberation in an information society.