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This insightful study by Ann Macintosh explores the multifaceted nature of eParticipation, examining its successes, failures, and the challenges faced in achieving effective democratic engagement. It delves into key issues such as representativeness, institutional resistance, and the importance of cultural inclusivity. By highlighting research priorities, including the impact of social networks and the need for interdisciplinary approaches, the paper advocates for a deeper understanding of eParticipation's role in modern governance. It calls for enhanced commitment from stakeholders to foster inclusive and effective digital citizenship.
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Centre for Digital Citizenship Success, Failure & Challenges of eParticipation Ann Macintosh Professor of Digital Governance Centre for Digital Citizenship Institute of Communications Studies The University of Leeds, Email: A.Macintosh@leeds.ac.uk
eParticipation perspectives Identifying & analysing issues, discussions, people Designing & applying tools & processes Understanding eParticipation Doing eParticipation Measuring political, social & democractic effects Evaluation & Impact
Success, failure & challenges:Equity • Failures in current state: • Lack of understanding how divides impact on representativeness of eParticipation • Limited reliability and acceptability of eParticipation decisions Challenges for success • Acknowledging multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society • Understanding factors of exclusion • Role of mass media to reach excluded sections of society →
Success, failure & challenges:Institutions and Stakeholders • Failures in current state: • Institutional & political resistance to eParticipation • Lack of commitment from elected representatives • Overlapping initiatives by public agencies Challenges for success • Create environment and culture to engage with eParticipation • Online visibility and internal communication • Understanding problem-solving and power-sharing →
Success, failure & challenges:Information systems • Failures in current state: • Dependent choice of technology design and application for research • Lack of formal representation of information Challenges for success • Change of emphasis to a holistic view of design and application • eParticipation design environment • Advancing knowledge technologies →
eParticipation Research Priorities Inclusive eParticipation • Focus on growing multi-cultural and multi-ethnic shape of society • How eInclusion research can benefit eParticipation • Investigating relevance of technology devices
eParticipation Research Priorities Representatives and eParticipation • Investigating relevance and added value of eParticipation to engage politicians • Understanding what politicians think about eParticipation
eParticipation Research Priorities Social Networks and eParticipation • How formal consultations are taken up by public sphere • How effectively online consultations are inter-connected with other sites on same public-policy issue
eParticipation Research Priorities Understanding the conversation & supporting deliberation • Capturing the meaning of public debate • Investigating multi-media information to support debate • Supporting moderation & facilitation
eParticipation Research Priorities Cultural & normative differences • Does ‘political participation’ have common meanings across Europe & amongst different social actors? • How are key terms relating to eParticipation used & applied by various actors?
eParticipation Research Priorities Quality and Impact of eParticipation • Focus on how eParticipation affects democracy • Integrating criteria and methods for assessing eParticipation • Investigating long term impacts
Conclusions Needs more inter-disciplinary research Needs consideration of a range of technologies (old and new) Needs commitment from all stakeholders Thank you Current eParticipation is both a success and a failure!