Abstract

The article examines the challenges facing the classical model of democracy in the context of rapid technological progress and globalization. In the modern world, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, algorithmic forecasting, and transnational corporations significantly reshape political power, undermining traditional democratic mechanisms. The study analyzes how these factors contribute to the concentration of power in the hands of unelected elites, threatening the devaluation of democratic principles. Drawing on a critical analysis of works by leading theorists (A.Giddens, F.Fukuyama, S.Huntington, D.Held, T. Snyder, Z.Bauman, S.Zuboff, and others) and empirical cases, such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the article explores the transformation of democracy under the influence of surveillance capitalism and information monopolies. Particular attention is given to B.Bratton’s concept of the “Stack,” which describes a new architecture of power where technological platforms assume quasi-sovereign roles, and Z.Brzezinski’s ideas about a technocratic elite leveraging modern tools to enhance societal control. The article argues that the binary model of “democracy vs. authoritarianism” is losing relevance due to the convergence of governance practices driven by technological infrastructure. It suggests that democracy can retain its significance only by adapting to new realities through civic vigilance, institutional protection, and critical thinking, as emphasized by T.Snyder. Future research prospects lie in developing democratic models resilient to technological power concentration and mechanisms to safeguard individual autonomy in the era of digital surveillance.