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  2. GENED 1213

Digital Democracy
GENED 1213

Course Information

Description

In the age of AI, what has happened to the dream of democracy, the faith that we can collectively govern ourselves? 

This course takes three approaches to addressing this urgent question, and in the process asks students to develop their own conceptions of citizenship and moral action. First, the core method is historical. With a focus on the postwar United States, we will examine how a wide range of actors have used digital technologies to remake the basic building blocks of government. Second, a range of theoretical traditions will elucidate how core democratic concepts and aspirations including freedom, fairness, and citizenship have evolved. Third, we will ground this abstract analysis in concrete policy problems, with special attention to open contentious issues including automation, racial discrimination, health, encryption, safety, surveillance, and wealth inequality.

Class Notes

This course is part of the Gen Ed lottery and has an enrollment cap. To participate in the lottery, you must request permission to enroll by submitting a petition and ranking your choices through my.harvard by 11:59 p.m. EST Monday, November 9, 2026. 

  • Note: You must rank your course choices to participate in the lottery--even if you choose only one course. 

The Gen Ed lottery will run Tuesday, November 10. If you are successful in the lottery, it will say “Petition Approved” in green above the course in your Crimson Cart. You will have until 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday, November 12, to select “enroll” and claim your seat. After that time, enrollment will open up to non-lottery petitioners. 

For instructions on how to participate in the lottery, please visit: https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=c3e857c9db7d4bc4a752f1a51d96190e 

For more information on the Gen Ed lottery specifically, please visit: https://gened.college.harvard.edu/courses/registration-and-lottery/

School Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Credits 4
Cross Reg

Available for Harvard Cross Registration

Course Component Lecture
Grading Basis FAS Letter Graded
General Education Ethics and Civics
Quantitative Reasoning with Data N/A
Divisional Distribution None
Course Level Primarily for Undergraduate Students