DIGITAL GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY IN SMALL STATES: INSTITUTIONAL ADAPTATION IN THE ERA OF ALGORITHMIC DECISION-MAKING

Abstract The rapid expansion of digital governance systems has transformed the architecture of public administration in small states. Algorithmic decision-making, automated public services, digital identity frameworks, and data-driven policy instruments increasingly mediate interactions between citizens and institutions. While such systems promise efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness, they also raise complex questions concerning democratic legitimacy, accountability, and institutional trust. This study analyzes how small states adapt democratic institutions to the growing presence of algorithmic governance mechanisms. Focusing on the structural characteristics of digitally advanced small-state systems, the research explores the relationship between technological modernization and normative democratic principles. Particular attention is devoted to transparency, public oversight, citizen participation, and legal safeguards in data-intensive governance environments. The objective is to assess whether digitalization strengthens democratic legitimacy or introduces new forms of procedural opacity and institutional asymmetry.