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A systematic analysis of digital tools for citizen participation

Abstract

Despite the increasing use of digital tools for citizen participation, their ecosystem and functionality remain underexplored. What digital tools exist, and how do they help citizens engage in policymaking? This article addresses this gap by examining the supply side of digital tools for citizen participation. We compiled a comprehensive dataset of 116 digital tools from three public repositories. Using the collective intelligence genome framework, adapted for the e-participation context, we systematically examined the dynamics and trends of these tools through cluster analyses. Our findings highlight the potential of digital participatory tools to facilitate the flow of information from citizens to governments using advanced technologies. However, a prominent deficiency was identified in disseminating accountability information to citizens regarding how policy decisions are made, realised, and assessed. These findings offer valuable insights and notable gaps in the digital tool ecosystem.

Category

Academic article

Client

  • Nordforsk / 106420

Language

English

Author(s)

Affiliation

  • University of Helsinki
  • SINTEF Digital / Software Engineering, Safety and Security
  • United Kingdom
  • Sweden

Year

2024

Published in

Government Information Quarterly: an international journal of information technology management, policies, and practices

ISSN

0740-624X

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

41

Issue

3

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