Democratic health under pressure: the role of AI and education

Bart Libbrecht, Irina De Knop, Emilie Vandevelde.

On December 3, 2025, the CTRL SHIFT DELETE program stopped in Lennik for a lecture on democratic health. The evening was organized by the local chapter of Mensen en Wetenschap, in collaboration with OSB-VUB, Het Huis van de Mens, and the Humanistisch Verbond.

PhD researcher Emilie Vandevelde guided the audience through a sharp and thought-provoking analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence on our health, solidarity, and democracy.

AI between progress and risk

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in healthcare. Based on big data, AI can offer personalized health advice, potentially leading to healthier lifestyles and reduced health risks. That sounds promising.

But significant societal risks lie beneath the surface. When health is reduced to individual scores and predictions, responsibility increasingly shifts to the individual. This can undermine solidarity and lead to unequal treatment by governments and insurers.

According to Vandevelde, the situation in China shows how far this logic can go. There, big data is used to build a social credit system in which citizens are rewarded or punished based on their behavior, opinions, and loyalty. Criticism of the system can result in sanctions, travel restrictions, or exclusion. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, this creates the growing risk of a digital dictatorship.

Citizenship as a buffer against authoritarianism

Against these troubling developments, Vandevelde offered one powerful answer: education. Citizenship education proves to be a crucial lever in strengthening young people’s resilience against authoritarian tendencies and the erosion of solidarity.

Research shows that young people with strong knowledge of democracy, human rights, and political processes display significantly less support for authoritarian regimes. Democratic knowledge literally acts as a buffer against manipulation, concentration of power, and digital control.

Citizenship is not only about knowledge, but also about attitudes, skills, critical thinking, and social engagement. It should not be a standalone subject tucked away in a timetable, but a cross-cutting approach that runs through all areas of education.

Young people: engaged, but differently

Recent figures show that around 70% of young people in Flanders consider social engagement important. Traditional political participation, such as joining a political party, is losing appeal, but commitment to local and social causes remains strong.

At the same time, a significant shift is visible. The so-called “all-round engagement profile,” where young people participate actively in multiple ways, has declined in Flanders from 37% to 17%. This is a signal that calls for vigilance.

Studies also show that the intentions of 14-year-olds are strong predictors of later civic engagement. Investing in citizenship education between the ages of 13 and 15 is therefore particularly crucial.

Teachers insufficiently prepared

A striking pain point highlighted during the lecture: only 11% of future teachers currently feel well prepared to teach citizenship education. Political self-efficacy, the confidence to address social and political issues, appears to be the key factor.

Teacher training programs that include dedicated citizenship courses score significantly higher in motivation, confidence, and effectiveness. Without such courses, willingness and preparedness remain worryingly low.

Strategic choices for the future

The conclusion of the evening was clear: anyone who takes solidarity, democracy, and freedom seriously must invest strategically in citizenship education and teacher development. Democratic knowledge, critical thinking, and political self-efficacy are not luxuries, but essential foundations for a resilient society.

Policy frameworks such as those of the Council of Europe provide a strong basis, but the real challenge lies in concrete implementation at school level, with sufficient support for teachers.

A call for vigilance and engagement

The lecture in Lennik made one thing abundantly clear: technology is never neutral. AI can deliver health benefits, but without democratic oversight and strong solidarity, it also risks a slippery slope toward digital inequality and authoritarian systems.

Education remains our strongest defense — not only to transmit knowledge, but to form critical, resilient, and engaged citizens.

Emilie Vandevelde is a PhD researcher focusing on citizenship, democratic resilience, and the political participation of young people. In her research, she examines how education can foster critical thinking, solidarity, and resistance to authoritarian tendencies. She combines academic expertise with strong social engagement and is a sought-after speaker on democracy, education, and digital challenges.