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== On the Definition ==
== On the Definition ==
Participation is a goal-oriented process that involves decision making and control. E-participation, which encompasses participation in [[political science]] and theory of [[management]], refers to direct public participation in political, economical, or management decisions. When participation becomes complicated, decision making becomes necessary and any participatory process is potentially important for the rule system governing the activities. In this sense, when service processes become complex, the implementation of them will not be in all details based on political decisions but also on what is found to be practical.
Participation is a goal-oriented process involving decision-making and control. In the contexts of [[political science]] and management theory, e-participation refers to the direct public involvement in political, economic, or management decisions. As participation grows complex, decision-making becomes essential, with every participatory process potentially influencing the rule system governing the activities. In cases where service processes become intricate, their implementation relies not only on political decisions but also on practical solutions.


Instead of taking in and accepting knowledge as is disseminated by the media and government, by participating, one becomes an active citizen and further contributes to a [[democratic society]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Attention, and Other 21st-Century Social Media Literacies|url=http://er.educause.edu/articles/2010/10/attention-and-other-21stcentury-social-media-literacies|access-date=2015-12-16|website=er.educause.edu}}</ref> When such practical doings become implemented in government [[E-services|e-service systems]], they will affect decision making, as later changes will be difficult to make after existing procedures have been implemented in [[Information technology|ICT systems]] and [[government agencies]]’ procedures. There are many theories dealing with institutionalization, for example [[structuration theory]], [[institutional theory]], and [[actor-network theory]]. These different theories all deal with how methods of operation becomes established or rejected, and how those that become established increasingly affect the ways society habitually accomplish tasks. Alternatively, when viewed from the citizen's perspective, the [[capability approach]] is being applied to understand the behaviors of individuals. This approach allows institutions to identify normative capabilities that can improve citizen's opportunities to participate in the governance process.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Huffman|first=Benjamin David|date=2017-12-18|title=E-Participation in the Philippines: A Capabilities Approach to Socially Inclusive Governance|url=https://www.jedem.org/index.php/jedem/article/view/461|journal=JeDEM - eJournal of EDemocracy and Open Government|volume=9|issue=2|pages=24–46|doi=10.29379/jedem.v9i2.461|issn=2075-9517|doi-access=free}}</ref>
Instead of passively absorbing information disseminated by the media and government, engaging in participation transforms an individual into an active citizen, contributing to a [[democratic society]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Attention, and Other 21st-Century Social Media Literacies|url=http://er.educause.edu/articles/2010/10/attention-and-other-21stcentury-social-media-literacies|access-date=2015-12-16|website=er.educause.edu}}</ref> When these practical actions are integrated into government [[E-services|e-service systems]], they influence decision-making, as later changes become challenging once existing procedures have been implemented in [[Information technology|ICT systems]] and [[government agencies]]' procedures. Several theories, such as [[structuration theory]], [[institutional theory]], and [[actor-network theory]], examine institutionalization, exploring how operational methods become established or rejected, and how established methods increasingly influence societal norms for task completion. From a citizen's perspective, the [[capability approach]] is employed to understand individual behaviors. This method enables institutions to identify normative capabilities that can enhance citizens' opportunities to participate in the governance process.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Huffman|first=Benjamin David|date=2017-12-18|title=E-Participation in the Philippines: A Capabilities Approach to Socially Inclusive Governance|url=https://www.jedem.org/index.php/jedem/article/view/461|journal=JeDEM - eJournal of EDemocracy and Open Government|volume=9|issue=2|pages=24–46|doi=10.29379/jedem.v9i2.461|issn=2075-9517|doi-access=free}}</ref>


== E-participation Index ==
== E-participation Index ==

Revision as of 01:04, 23 May 2023

Electronic participation (e-participation) refers to the use of ICT in facilitating citizen participation in government-related processes, encompassing areas such as administration, service delivery, decision-making, and policy-making. As such, e-participation shares close ties with e-government and e-governance participation.[1] The term's emergence aligns with the digitization of citizen interests and interactions with political service providers, primarily due to the proliferation of e-government.

E-participation can be further defined as a mechanism that augments and intensifies political participation, enabling citizens to connect with each other and their elected representatives through information and communication technologies (ICTs).[2] This comprehensive definition encompasses all stakeholders in democratic decision-making processes, not merely top-down government initiatives centered on citizens. E-participation is a significant component of e-democracy, involving various entities such as governments, media, political parties, interest groups, civil society organizations, international governmental organizations, as well as citizens and voters in the political processes at the local, national, and global levels.[3]

The intricacies of e-participation processes arise from the diversity of participation domains, the variety of involved stakeholders, differing levels of engagement, and the various stages in policy making.

History

Originating in the early 2000s, the term "e-participation" emerged from the idea of promoting civic involvement in public policies via information and communication technologies (ICTs). The evolution of e-participation generally hinges on three factors: the progression of ICTs, the expansion of e-democracy, and the advancement of e-government.[4]

The greatest catalyst for the surge in e-participation is the advancement of ICTs, which have facilitated improved collaboration between the public and the government. The development of CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work) and groupware, designed to foster collaborative environments, has significantly enhanced human interaction mediated by ICTs in both professional and social settings. Consequently, e-participation has emerged as a societal activity, involving collaboration among politicians, administrative figures, and the public.[5]

The evolution of e-democracy since the late 1990s has significantly influenced the advent of e-participation. This interest quickly expanded from e-voting to various forms of ICT-assisted and ICT-enabled interactions between governments and citizens. These interactions encompass both direct methods like consultations, lobbying, petitioning, and polling, as well as indirect ones, such as campaigning and community informatics conducted outside the direct government purview. The extent of participation allowed in democratic processes is often determined by the institutional conditions of the chosen democratic model, such as direct or representative democracy or any hybrid forms.[6]

The progression in e-government towards increasingly intricate service-delivery is another factor contributing to the rise of e-participation. Complex services necessitate extensive interaction, including searching, option selection based on various criteria, outcome calculations, notifications, inquiries, and complaints. While numerous ICT tools exist for these tasks, ranging from FAQs to call centers, there remains a need for their coordination into user-friendly yet robust toolsets for client-organization encounters. Given the complexity of interactions in such contexts, and the goals to be achieved, these arenas become social spaces for ICT-supported participation.

On the Definition

Participation is a goal-oriented process involving decision-making and control. In the contexts of political science and management theory, e-participation refers to the direct public involvement in political, economic, or management decisions. As participation grows complex, decision-making becomes essential, with every participatory process potentially influencing the rule system governing the activities. In cases where service processes become intricate, their implementation relies not only on political decisions but also on practical solutions.

Instead of passively absorbing information disseminated by the media and government, engaging in participation transforms an individual into an active citizen, contributing to a democratic society.[7] When these practical actions are integrated into government e-service systems, they influence decision-making, as later changes become challenging once existing procedures have been implemented in ICT systems and government agencies' procedures. Several theories, such as structuration theory, institutional theory, and actor-network theory, examine institutionalization, exploring how operational methods become established or rejected, and how established methods increasingly influence societal norms for task completion. From a citizen's perspective, the capability approach is employed to understand individual behaviors. This method enables institutions to identify normative capabilities that can enhance citizens' opportunities to participate in the governance process.[8]

E-participation Index

The e-participation index (EPI) was designed by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs as "a supplementary index to the UN E-Government Survey".[9] The EPI is used to evaluate the effectiveness of online services that propels the interaction and exchange of information between government and individuals, as well as the engagement of citizens in policy and decision-making. It is evaluated on the basis of how well a government relays information to its constituents, how engaged citizens are in the designing of policies, and how empowered citizens feel in the decision-making process, together these factors make up the framework of "e-information", "e-consultation", and "e-decision making". Specifically, the index is calculated by subtracting the lowest e-participation score from the e-participation score of the country, then divided by the range of scores for all countries.[10] The resulting index score is a foundation measure that captures how inclusive a government is.[9]

Models and tools

A number of tools and models have emerged as part of Web 2.0 that can be used or inspire the design of architecture for e-participation. In particular, "the emergence of online communities oriented toward the creation of useful products suggests that it may be possible to design socially mediating technology that support public-government collaborations" (Kriplean et al. 2009).

Participation tools

  • Social networking services, such as popular media platforms and blogs, have built online platforms that makes it possible for people to connect with others and participate in interactive activities. Social activities such as the engagement between citizens and government agencies have been facilitated by online platforms and social networking has been increasingly used by the government to keep up with public trends and identify political issues people are most passionate about. Popular platforms such as Twitter and Facebook has allowed users to actively engage in politics online by expressing their political standpoints and opinions as well as organize movements to bring attention to issues of importance.[11] The instantaneous sharing and response mechanisms social networking platforms generate has become an important tool of e-participation that enables citizens to engage in decision-making and government agencies to take initiative in addressing public concerns.
  • Wikis are another way people can participate collaboratively online with others, although not directly with politicians and government administrators. The evolving and collaborative nature of wikis allows citizens to contribute to topics they are knowledgeable about and share that knowledge with others who want to learn about it. At the same time, it allows for debate about the topic and interaction between different contributors. The ease of updating articles allows each topic to be up to date and present viewers with the most recent and comprehensive understanding of each topic.[12] Wikis can be tools to facilitate and inspire e-participation by allowing people to bring attention to certain movements and issues and informing others of the impact of potential issues.

Mechanisms

  • Electronic voting generally comes in two different forms: e-voting physically such as electronic voting machines at polling stations,[13] or remote e-voting through the Internet. Remote e-voting is a powerful tool that contributes to e-participation by offering the ability to vote from anywhere at anytime, which reduces the time and cost of voting. This can lead to an increase in voter turnout and civic engagement as it increases citizen's accessibility to offer their support for different policies and political figures.[14] Especially with the rise of blockchain technology, the security and transparency of electronic voting has been drastically improved and the decentralized nature of blockchain technologies can transform the model of electronic voting in the future.[15] However, there are obvious drawbacks with e-voting, most clearly seen in the digital inequality of the country. Electronic voting can emphasize and enhance the digital divide between people of different socioeconomic backgrounds and age groups, and the technology may not be accessible to all.[16] In this sense, e-voting can alienate those without access to technology and stable internet access, and in fact hinder citizen engagement rather than facilitate it.
  • Internet petitions have become a popular platform for citizens to engage in policy reviewing and issue petitioning. Internet petitions allow for flexibility and ease to achieve political impact and to voice concerns about urging issues both socially and politically. It increases citizen engagement while also allowing administration to be more responsive to the opinions and needs of the population. Petitioning platforms created by the government such as We The People is directly linked to administration officials who can provide response and propel important movements.[17] Internet petitions contributes a greater citizen participation and in return, a more inclusive relationship between government and society.
  • Quadratic voting is another emerging technology that uses blockchain technology to facilitate e-participation. Quadratic voting allows citizens to express how strongly they feel about a policy by assigning individuals with a set amount of tokens, then allowing them to vote multiple times with the tokens to express urgency or passion for the policy they feel most strongly about.[18] Quadratic voting enables more flexibility and interactivity in the voting process. The idea of expressing the "strength" of voter's voices and opinions more clearly in the voting process increases the engagement of citizens and shows more feedback about certain issues and policies than a traditional voting system can.[19][20]
  • Reputation systems
  • Transparency tools (social translucence mechanisms)

Tracking and analysis

Crowdsourcing

To demonstrate e-participation at work, one can turn to one of its types - crowdsourcing. This is generally defined as the enlisting of a group of humans to solve problems via the World Wide Web.[21] The idea is that this platform is able to collect human resources from the most unlikely and remotest places, contributing to the general store of intellectual capital.[22] Crowdsourcing can be applied in different stages of the policy-making process and these could transpire on the information, consultation, and active participation levels.[23] At the information level, there is a one-way relationship, wherein the participants receive information from the government. The consultation process entails a two-way interaction where citizens already provide their inputs, feedback, and reactions. Finally, active participation can refer to the deeper participatory involvement where citizens directly contribute in the formulation of policy content.[23] This level of e-participation is increasingly being practiced through tools such as online petition, e-referendum, e-panels, citizen e-juries, and participatory GIS, among others.

Challenges of e-participation

One of the biggest challenges to e-participation is the existence of a digital divide, as e-participation highly relies on access to new technologies as well as access to stable Internet connections. Oftentimes, e-participation also requires a higher digital literacy such as skills to digitally analyze policy proposals and provide input in a digital sphere. In addition, Internet safety and collaboration are also abilities and knowledge needed to better navigate tools for e-participation.[24] These, along with physical access to technology, exist as barriers to people of different socioeconomic levels and those who lack or can not afford access to these technologies. The digital divide hinders and limits the ability for certain groups to voice their opinions, which in return excludes them from participation, backfiring the initial goal of e-participation.[24]

European eParticipation actions

European eParticipation Preparatory Action

eParticipation is preparatory actions [clarification needed][25] have been conducted[clarification needed] for three years (2006–2008). The EU is taking the lead in using online tools to improve the legislative process for its citizens. eParticipation which launched on January 1, 2007, will run as a series of linked projects which each contribute to a greater awareness and involvement by citizens in the legislation process from initial drafting to implementation at a regional and local level.

The individual projects will concentrate on ensuring that the legislative language and process is more transparent, understandable and accessible to citizens. In addition the projects emphasis on the communication of legislation will be used to enhance and grow citizens' involvement and contribution in the process of creating and implementing the legislation.

So far, 21 projects have been funded.[26] The European Parliament, national parliaments and local and regional authorities are actively involved. State-of-the-art ICT tools are being tested to facilitate the writing of legal texts, including translation into different languages, and the drafting of amendments as well as making the texts easier for non-specialists to find and understand. New digital technologies are also being used to give citizens easier access to information and more opportunity to influence decisions that affect their lives. A report (Charalabidis, Koussouris & Kipenis 2009), which was published as a MOMENTUM white paper, highlights the major facts and figures of those projects while providing some initial policy recommendations for future use.

European eParticipation Actions

The European Commission has now launched a number of actions aiming at further advancing the work of supporting eParticipation.

Examples:

  • FP7 : ICT Challenge 7 : Objective ICT-2009.7.3 ICT for Governance and Policy Modelling.[27] The European Commission has launched some call in this area to finance researches. Currently the Integrated Program Future Policy Modelling (FUPOL) is the largest project in this domain. FUPOL
  • CIP ICT Policy Support Programme (or ICT PSP). The European project has open a call in the programme CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation Framework) on the Theme 3: ICT for government and governance

See also

Notes

  1. ^ H. Jafarkarimi; A. T. H. Sim; R. Saadatdoost and J. M. Hee (2014). The Impact of ICT on Reinforcing Citizens’ Role in Government Decision Making, International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering, Vol.4 (1)
  2. ^ Macintosh, Ann (2004). "Characterizing E-Participation in Policy-Making". In the Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences: 5–8. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.98.6150.
  3. ^ Clift, Steven (2003). "E-Democracy, E-Governance and Public Net-Work".
  4. ^ Le Blanc, David (January 2020). "E-participation: a quick overview of recent qualitative trends" (PDF).
  5. ^ Le Blanc, David (January 2020). "E-participation: a quick overview of recent qualitative trends" (PDF).
  6. ^ Hilbert, Martin (2007). "Digital Processes and Democratic Theory: Dynamics, risks and opportunities that arise when democratic institutions meet digital information and communication technologies." open-access online book.
  7. ^ "Attention, and Other 21st-Century Social Media Literacies". er.educause.edu. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  8. ^ Huffman, Benjamin David (2017-12-18). "E-Participation in the Philippines: A Capabilities Approach to Socially Inclusive Governance". JeDEM - eJournal of EDemocracy and Open Government. 9 (2): 24–46. doi:10.29379/jedem.v9i2.461. ISSN 2075-9517.
  9. ^ a b "E-participation Index". UN E-Government Knowledgebase.
  10. ^ "5 Indices & Frameworks to Evaluate E-participation". CitizenLab's Blog. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  11. ^ Engagement (PACE), Philanthropy for Active Civic (2018-06-22). "Social Media: Driving or Diminishing Civic Engagement?". Medium. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  12. ^ Hasan, Heather (2012). Wikipedia, 3.5 million articles & counting : using and assessing the people's encyclopedia. Internet Archive. New York : Rosen Central. ISBN 978-1-4488-5557-5.
  13. ^ "Voting Equipment". Verified Voting. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  14. ^ "How Electronic Voting Works: Pros and Cons vs. Paper Voting". MakeUseOf. 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  15. ^ "The Future of Voting Is Blockchain". Chamber of Digital Commerce. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  16. ^ Alomari, Mohammad Kamel (December 2016). "Digital divide impact on e-voting adoption in middle eastern country". 2016 11th International Conference for Internet Technology and Secured Transactions (ICITST). Barcelona, Spain: IEEE: 409–412. doi:10.1109/ICITST.2016.7856741. ISBN 978-1-908320-73-5. S2CID 17187274.
  17. ^ "The background of the 'We the People' website". Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  18. ^ "Meet the Man With a Radical Plan for Blockchain Voting". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  19. ^ Eximchain (2018-08-17). "What makes Quadratic Voting an effective Democratic Voting Mechanism". Medium. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  20. ^ "Meet the Man With a Radical Plan for Blockchain Voting". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  21. ^ Scholl, H.J.; Glassey, O.; Janssen, M.F.W.H.A. (2016). Electronic Government and Electronic Participation: Joint Proceedings of Ongoing Research, PhD Papers, Posters and Workshops of IFIP EGOV and EPart 2016. Amsterdam: IOS Press. p. 218. ISBN 9781614996699.
  22. ^ Howe, Jeff (2008). Crowdsourcing: Why the Power of the Crowd Is Driving the Future of Business. New York: Crown Publishing Group. p. 16. ISBN 9780307396204.
  23. ^ a b Silva, Carlos (2013). Citizen E-Participation in Urban Governance: Crowdsourcing and Collaborative Creativity. Hershey, PA: IGI Global. p. 6. ISBN 9781466641709.
  24. ^ a b Le Blanc, David (January 2020). "E-participation: a quick overview of recent qualitative trends" (PDF).
  25. ^ "eGovernment & Digital Public Services". Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  26. ^ "European eParticipation web". Archived from the original on 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  27. ^ "Archives - CORDIS - European Commission". cordis.europa.eu. Retrieved 1 August 2018.

References

Organizations

International

Europe

  • FUPOL: Future Policy Modelling project
  • MOMENTUM: The European Commission Support Action in eParticipation
  • PEP-NET: Pan European eParticipation Network
  • European eParticipation Portal
  • TID+: the software suite developed for the Estonian public participation portal, also used by the Slovenian government
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