Four Models of eDemocracy

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Four Models of eDemocracy

• Associate Professor Øystein Sæbø,
• CAHDE 2nd plenary, Strasbourg, October 07

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Why this paper?

• eDemocracy successes vary
• unpredictable results
• missing knowledge on the link between democracy
  and the use of ICT
• Starting point
• we need to better understand the context
• we need to understand the link between technology
  and democracy (context)
• eDemocracy models
• explain variations in the democratic context
• try to explain how technology may show usefulness
  for various context

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Models of eDemocracy

• Based on
• inclusion in decisions
• to what degree are all citizens invited to
  participate?
• control of the agenda
• who decides what to be discussed?

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Four Models of eDemocracy
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Liberal eDemocracy

• No changes in distribution of power
• politicians/governments in charge of decision
  making and agenda
• citizens mainly inform/ being informed
• eDemocracy
• main focus information exchange
• increase citizens opportunity to control and
  evaluate
• increase their opportunity to choose between
  candidates
• ICT applications (examples)
• discussion forum (focus on information exchange)
• feedback mechanisms
• distribution of candidates/parties viewpoints
• archive/ dissemination of information

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Deliberative eDemocracy

• Citizens involved in decision making processes
  and agenda setting
• requires
• politicians will to include citizens
• citizens will to participate
• real eDemocracy?
• real dialogue
• influence on agenda setting
• citizens could expect influence by participate
• ICT applications (examples)
• discussion forums (real discussions)
• control mechanisms
• quality of information exchange (two-ways)
• citizens panels

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Direct eDemocracy

• radical alternative
• citizens are in charge
• no use for representatives
• ICT could help to coordinate, without middlemen
• currently very few examples
• eDemocracy
• voting/ decision making
• agenda setting
• coordination mechanism
• ICT applications (examples)
• voting mechanism
• agenda setting mechanism

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Partisan eDemocracy

• independent from traditional decision makings
  mechanisms
• citizens initiatives by using ICT
• opportunity to mass- communicate
• keep control of the agenda
• eDemocracy
• increase public debate?
• could not be led by government
• speakers corner
• ICT applications (examples)
• discussion forums (uninterrupted by
  government/politicians)
• blogs
• social networking activities

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Why discuss eDemocracy models?

• eDemocracy initiatives need to understand context
• deliberation without politicians will to be
  influenced, or citizens will to participate
• successful projects may not be easily transferred
  
• design and management of ICT applications vary
• e.g. discussion forums should be designed
  according to objectives
• do not promise too much!
• if citizens are asked to influence, the should
  expect some influence!
• if they are asked only to inform, they should
  now..

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Implications for practice

• Consider context before technology
• technology is easy
• knowledge on how to utilise eDemocracy
  initiatives is difficult
• Involve major stakeholders in the development
  process
• citizens, politicians and government officials
  should discuss needs
• technological competence less important in the
  initial phase
• focus also on politicians
• very often taken for granted
• why should they be interested in more
  deliberation?
• the four models
• only archetypes
• starting point for a discussion on democratic
  context and link to technology

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eDemocracy tools

• Øystein Sæbø,
• CAHDE 2nd plenary, Strasbourg, October 07

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Background

• Based on a DemoNet report
• Current ICT to enable eParticipation
• editors Asta Thorleifsdottir and Maria Wimmer
• eDemocracy rapidly developing
• report on tools are immediately out-dated
• thus focus on framework on how to analyse
• may show importance also in the future
• opportunity to compare
• why tools, not technology?
• eDemocracy mainly based on generic technologies
• tools applications developed to achieve some
  tasks
• eDemocracy tools based on known technologies

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eDemocracy areas

• communication needs and decision making
  mechanisms
• tools are developed to support eDemocracy areas
• more sustainable than tools

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eDemocracy areas
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Template to identify eDemocracy tools

• template to describe existing and future
  eDemocracy tools
• allows for comparison
• could be used to dynamically develop a library
  of various opportunities

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Template to identify eDemocracy tools

• general description
• overall objectives
• could be based on eDemocracy models
• which area to support?
• what are the major stakeholders views?
• support which stages in the policy life cycle?
• level of participation?
• e.g. information exchange, deliberation, direct
  decision making?
• security and privacy
• accessibillity
• channel availability
• technologies used
• evaluation

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Template to identify eDemocracy tools
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Overview core eDemocracy tools
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Overview (generic) ICT tools extensively used in
eDemocracy
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Overview basic ICT tools needed in eDemocracy
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Practical implications

• all tools are described in detail by the DemoNet
  project
• please let me know if you like the full report
• introduces a strategy on how to identify and
  compare eDemocracy tools
• could be used to develop libraries of tools for
  various purposes
• there no such thing as generic eDemocracy tools
• dependent on the purpose
• more knowledge is still needed on eDemocracy
  technologies
• what will happen when social networking
  technologies and web 2.0 is introduced?
• e.g how will Facebook, YouTube, MySpace and
  similar applications influence
• how will that change citizens expectations?

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Thank you for your attention!

• Questions?
• Comments?
• Main references
• tools
• http//www.demo-net.org/demo
• models
• Models of E-Democracy, (2006)  Päivärinta Tero
  and Sæbø Øystein Communication of AIS, vol 17,
  pp. 818- 840.

Contact information Øystein Sæbø (Oystein
Sabo) University of Agder Department of
Information systems Service box 422 4604
Kristiansand, Norway E-mailOystein.Sabo_at_uia.no Ph
one 47 38 14 16 26, 47 90 20 73
52 http//home.hia.no/oysteisa