Tracking Democracy Through the Words We Use
The Democracy Discourse Index (DDI) is a student-powered initiative that measures how democracy is discussed online, capturing real-time insights into public trust, sentiment, and civic engagement.
Why Measure Democracy Through Discourse?
Democracy is shaped by how people vote and how they talk about it.
From disinformation to political polarization, the way democracy is discussed online reveals powerful insights about societal trust, fear, hope, and resilience. Yet most traditional democracy indices focus solely on laws and institutions, leaving out the civic voice itself.
That’s where the Democracy Discourse Index (DDI) comes in.
Built within The Disinformation Observatory, the DDI fills a critical gap: mapping the emotional and linguistic trends that shape civic life.
We explore the rationale behind this shift in this article, outlining why discourse-based measurement is essential for understanding democracy in real time.
From Words to Signals: Our Methodology
The DDI is powered by three core components:
Narrative Tracking
We use natural language processing (NLP) tools to track key democratic themes — elections, civil liberties, institutions, corruption, media trust — across multiple digital platforms.
Sentiment & Emotion Analysis
We analyze public discourse not just by what’s said, but how it’s said. The tone, intensity, and emotional cues offer vital clues about public trust and anxiety.
Contextual Interpretation
Local context matters. Students and researchers provide on-the-ground insight, helping interpret data through cultural, political, and linguistic lenses.
What Sets the DDI Apart
Narrative-Centric
Goes beyond keywords to identify patterns in how ideas evolve over time.
Cross-National Insights
Tracks democratic discourse across countries for comparison and shared patterns.
Student-Powered
Developed and refined with the direct involvement of university students.
Updated Continuously
Publishes recurring updates to reflect shifts in how democracy is discussed over time.
Built for Researchers, Educators, and Advocates
The Democracy Discourse Index is built to support those working to understand and defend democratic values—from educators and researchers to journalists and civil society leaders. Whether you’re exploring democratic theory or analyzing political narratives, the DDI offers fresh insights into how democracy is talked about and what that means for its future.
If you’d like to learn more, share insights from your country, or explore partnership opportunities, we’d love to hear from you.