Is e-health political? How your vote shapes innovation

Research suggests that political ideology shapes attitudes toward new technologies. However, the reality is more complex than the cliché that liberals embrace progress while conservatives resist innovation. In deeply divided societies, it’s politically driven emotions that often determine whether we welcome change or cling to the status quo.

Right-wing tradition, liberal science, and left-wing protectionism

Political beliefs are strongly linked to the acceptance of new technologies, primarily because values influence either openness to change or a preference for tradition. It has long been known that individuals with conservative views are generally less inclined to embrace innovation. This is supported by the 2024 study Why Should Innovators Care About Morality? Political Ideology, Moral Foundations, and the Acceptance of Technological Innovations. Right-leaning voters often adhere to moral values tied to tradition and authority – values associated with lower acceptance of technological change. Conservatism favors stability and the past over future progress.

Yet the picture becomes more nuanced when looking at far-right, mainstream conservative, and economically liberal right-wing parties. Liberal-conservative governments are typically more supportive of technological innovation than left-wing ones due to their pro-market policies: deregulation, tax incentives, international collaboration, and R&D subsidies that stimulate private investment and commercialization.

Polarization

This polarization appears not only in attitudes toward technology but also in novelty in general. The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark example: conservatives tended to be more vaccine-hesitant than liberals, not only regarding COVID-19, but also flu, HPV vaccines, and others. Centrist party voters tend to show relatively greater openness to innovation and new developments.

The influence of far-right populist parties on innovation, however, isn’t just driven by the moral expectations of their base. Economics also plays a role. Democratic erosion can reduce investor confidence, which depends on stable economic development. Moreover, anti-globalization rhetoric and high tax burdens on foreign companies may hinder the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. But not always, globalization and the internet allow new products and services to spread even under non-democratic regimes.

A 2025 study titled When Do Parties Lie? Misinformation and Radical-Right Populism Across 26 Countries found that far-right populists are more likely to spread misinformation on social media, which undermines public trust in science and technology. This fuels fear of emerging innovations like AI.

“Radical right-wing populists use disinformation as a tool to destabilize democracy and gain political advantage,” says Petter Törnberg of the University of Amsterdam.

Left-wing ambivalence: progress without disruption?

On the other side of the spectrum are left-wing governments. Their voters are often progressive, but not always in terms of innovation. When they support technology, it tends to be green tech, only when it doesn’t threaten jobs. High taxation due to robust social policies can stifle entrepreneurship, particularly in fields like AI that focus on automation (perceived as a threat to employment and working conditions).

Populist parties present yet another challenge on both the left and right. Innovation struggles under their rule due to strong anti-elite rhetoric aimed at scientific institutions and international organizations, including the EU. Their political appeal often relies on denying facts and spreading fake news. They prioritize short-term fixes over strategic development.

Digital progress or cause for concern?

Here is what we know so far:

• The left often slows technical innovation, supporting only those aligned with social justice and ethical standards.
• The right is typically more pro-technology, especially when it comes to domestic innovation.
• The liberal center fosters innovation through science and balanced policy.

Yet ideals alone don’t determine success. What really matters is the governing party’s ability to implement innovation and its relevance in public discourse.

The same applies to innovation in the healthcare sector. Economically liberal individuals favor minimal regulation and rapid adoption of new tech. Conservatives prefer constraints, fearing that technologies could disrupt the traditional social order.

Interestingly, the causality can also go in reverse: innovations themselves can influence political beliefs. For example, the study Political Consequences of Technological Change shows that the rising risk of job loss due to automation boosts support for far-right parties, especially among lower-income and less-educated populations. In a rapidly changing world driven by AI and labor market shifts, some social groups may feel lost and seek security in strong leaders and authoritarian governance.

Political ideology and support for innovation