Technological Mediation, Democratic Participation, and Trust: Implications for Governance and the Case of Albania.

By, Elda BAGAVIKI

Abstract
This article examines the multifaceted implications of technological mediation for democratic participation and public trust in governance institutions. Drawing on political theory, science and technology studies (STS), and empirical evidence from post-communist transition states, the article argues that digital technologies simultaneously expand participatory opportunity and introduce new risks of exclusion, manipulation, and legitimacy erosion. It develops a tripartite analytical framework—access, agency, and accountability—to evaluate the democratic quality of technology-mediated governance. Albania is deployed as a primary illustrative case, offering a vivid portrait of the tensions between rapid e-government expansion and persisting deficits of civic trust, institutional capacity, and digital equity. Written as a conceptual and illustrative case study analysing secondary data, the article draws on data from INSTAT, the European Commission, and Freedom House, among others, and concludes with policy recommendations oriented toward inclusive digital democracy. Its purpose is to generate theoretical and policy insights
rather than establish causal relationships.

Keywords: e-governance, digital democracy, institutional trust, Albania, civic technology, participatory governance