Post in Metrics to judge local e-democracy

Aug 01 15:11 UTC

01.08.2008

The subjects at hand interest me a great deal. My question for everyone is
this: Can new technologies of communication really help to better political
systems, advance democracy and stimulate public participation in the
political process?

For there to be a valid and legitimate change, I think neither the support
(i.e., the communication tool) nor the process is the answer. We can
modernize the support all we want; it has been and will always be the
mentality of the individuals (i.e., citizens and politicians) and their
willingness to participate. When we speak about E-democracy - a term that I
still deem premature given the state of things - not only do we have to take
into account the willingness from both parties (i.e., government and
citizen) to act, but also the level of *confidence *- not trust - each party
has in the other.

(Note: The word *trust *is too strong, close to impossible to measure and
perhaps too moral a word to be associated with politics or democracy. With
the word *confidence, *there's an idea of probability that lingers (i.e., I
am confident my elected official will do what she or he says), and thus
seems a little more appropriate.

Can new technologies of communication really help to bring politicians
closer to understanding the challenges citizens face and vice versa? Yes, I
believe they can.

I think the first step, though, should be e-participation and not
e-democracy. For the latter to work the way we want it, the former must
first be sought.