Abstract
There exist several models to describe “progress” in eParticipation. Models are typically ladder type and share two assumptions; progress is equalled with more sophisticated use of technology, and direct democracy is seen as the most advanced democracy model. None of the assumptions are true, considering democratic theory, and neither is fruitful as the simplification disturbs analysis and hence obscures actual progress made. The models convey a false impression of progress, but neither the goal, nor the path or the stakeholders driving the development are clearly understood, presented or evidenced. This paper analyses commonly used models based on democratic theory and eParticipation practice, and concludes that all are biased and fail to distinguish between the three dimensions an eParticipation progress model must include; relevance to democracy by any definition, applicability to different processes, (capacity building as well as decision making), and measuring different levels of participation without direct democracy bias.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnstein, S.R.: A Ladder of Citizen Participation. JAIP 35(4), 216–224 (1969)
Barber, B.: Strong Democracy. University of California Press, Berkeley (1984)
Bijker, W.E., Hughes, T.P., Pinch, T.J. (eds.): The Social Construction of Technological Systems: New Directions in the Sociology and History of Technology. MIT Press, Cambridge (1987)
Collins, K., Ison, R.: Dare we jump off Arnstein’s ladder? Social learning as a new policy paradigm. In: Proceedings of PATH (Participatory Approaches in Science & Technology) Conference, June 4-7, 2006, Edinburgh (2006)
EU (2009), http://www.euser-eu.org/Glossary.asp?GlossaryID=12 , eUser Glossary (retrieved March 19, 2009)
Fung, A.: Varieties of Participation in Complex Governance. In: Public Administration Review, ABI/INFORM Global, December 2006, p. 66 (2006)
Grönlund, Å., Åström, J.: DoITright: measuring effectiveness of different eConsultation designs. In: Forthcoming in Proceedings of the 1st eParticipation Conference. Springer, Berlin (2009)
IAP2, Spectrum of Public Participation. International Association for Public Participation (2002), http://www.iap2.org/associations/4748/files/spectrum.pdf
Lukensmeyer, C.J., Torres, L.H.: Public Deliberation: A Manager’s Guide to Citizen Engagement. IBM Center for the Business of Government (2006)
Macintosh, A., Whyte, A.: Towards an Evaluation Framework for eParticipation Transforming Government: People, Process & Policy, vol. 2(1) (2008)
Tambouris, E., Liotas, N., Tarabanis, K.: A framework for Assessing eParticipation Projects and Tools. In: 40th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (2007)
OECD Citizens as partners: Information, Consultation and Public participation in policy-making (2001), http://www.oecd.org/document/48/0,3343,en_33873108_33873376_25_36048_1_1_1_1,00.html (retrieved January 25, 2009)
Panopoulou, E., Tambouris, E., Tarabanis, K.: eParticipation good practice cases. Deliverable D4.1b, European eParticipation (2008), http://www.european-eparticipation.eu
Panopoulou, E., Tambouris, E., Tarabanis, K.: Framework for eParticipation. Study and supply of services on the development of eParticipation in the EU. European eParticipation, Deliverable D4.1a (2008b), http://www.european-eparticipation.eu
Panopoulou, E., Tambouris, E., Tarabanis, K.: Framework for eParticipation. Study and supply of services on the development of eParticipation in the EU. European eParticipation, Deliverable D4.1a. (2008c), http://www.european-eparticipation.eu
Pateman, C.: Participation and Democratic Theory. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge (1970)
Premfors, R.: Den starka demokratin (The strong democracy). Atlas, Stockholm (2000)
Tambouris, E., Liotas, N., Tarabanis, K.: A Framework for Assessing eParticipation Projects and Tools. In: Proc. 40th Int. Conf. on System Sciences, Hawaii, p. 90a (2007)
Åström, J.: “Digital demokrati?” Idéer och strategier i lokal IT-politik” (Digital Democracy? Ideas and Strategies in Local IT policy). In: IT i demokratins tjänst, SOU, p. 117. Fakta info direkt, Stockholm (1999)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Grönlund, Å. (2009). ICT Is Not Participation Is Not Democracy – eParticipation Development Models Revisited. In: Macintosh, A., Tambouris, E. (eds) Electronic Participation. ePart 2009. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 5694. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03781-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03781-8_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-03780-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-03781-8
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)