Complete title:
Putting eParticipation research on the service of Civil Society
Discussion Paper
Authors:
Pedro Prieto MartÃn, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, IN3, Barcelona, Spain
Description (short summary):
This discussion paper details the position of e-Participa, a research project on "Internet and Citizen Participation". The paper was presented at the ‘European Research Workshop to map the field of eParticipation’ that was held during the Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems in Venice, Italy, on 5 October 2006.
According to the author, eParticipation research needs to become more closely aligned with citizens and civil society needs. The unavailability of eDemocracy systems adapted to the characteristics and capacities of civil society makes it difficult for civic organisations to seize the potential of ICTs to promote civic participation. Since civic organisations do not have the capacity and knowledge required to design and build those systems, as much as eParticipation researchers do not have the capacity to experiment, leverage and replicate eParticipation experiences, the paper recommends an alliance between researchers and civic organisations.
In this light, the paper suggests that eParticipation worked crossdisciplinarily, in order to first identify civic organisations’ needs and then use them as guiding objectives for their research. Evaluation of the results should increasingly consider civil society feed-back. This, according to the paper, could probably be the most effective and quickest way to foster eParticipation.
Related articles(s):
Copyright information:
Original URL:
http://www.e-participa.org/en/resultados.htm
Languages available:
EN
Number of pages:
3
