e-Democracy Goes Ahead. The Internet As a Tool for Improving Deliberative Policies?

Abstract

At first, important features of the current situation of citizens’ participation in political procedures such as reasons for political apathy, political reactions with new ways of direct participation and the increase of communication- based means of participation are summarized. In the second part, “information”, “consultation” and “active participation” are described as main components of non-organized citizen communication which must be embedded into users’ and administrations’ environment not only technically, but also economically, legally, organisationally, motivationally, and politically. Two case studies illustrate opportunities given by online-participation and underline the requirements to use online participation as a supplement, not as a replacement of traditional participation and to combine the advantages of various online and offline ways of citizens’ involvement in a multi-channel approach.