ICTs and political democracy, Models of democracy and e-democracy, E-participation pyramid, Different ways of doing e-participation, E-participation divide in Europe, Massive usage by citizens, E-democracy developments in the Republic of Slovenia, An early lessons from e-participation, Results from field research, Technological determinism vs. social constructivism, Recommendations local municipalities

1. Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, Slovenia
18 September 2018, Ljubljana
E-participation in Slovenia: local
perspectives
Simon Delakorda, M.Sc.
www.inepa.si/english

2. to je test 2
ICTs and political democracy

cyber-utopists: ICTs spreads participatory democracy, but it
also forges a new era of Athenian democracy

cyber-pessimists: ICTs fails to support the democratisation
process and it possess characteristics that lead to regression

cyber-realists: ICTs have no negative impact on participation
but also does not strengthen democracy
Source: Soriano, 2013

3. Models of democracy and e-democracy
Models of democracy
Elitist-
competitive
Legalist Pluralist Plebiscitary Participatory
e-access x x x x x
e-petition x x
e-consultation x x x
e-voting x x
e-referendum x
e-forum x x x
e-democracytechniques
e-poll x x x
Source: Delakorda, S. 2006. Models of Democracy and the Design of Slovenian Political Party Web Sites. HCC.

4. E-participation pyramid

5. to je test 5
Different ways of doing e-participation

top down enabled (institutionalised) e-participation
- public authorities, bodies and organisations
- sustainable (funding)
- risk: distrust and low participation

bottom-up driven (non-institutionalised) e-participation:
- NGOs and citizens groups
- protest participation (higher involvement)
- risk: not sustainable

mixed approaches:
- stakeholders partnerships
- off-line and on-line participation
Source: Delakorda, 2013

6. E-participation divide in Europe
Source: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/Data-Center

7. to je test 7
Massive usage by citizens

8. to je test 8

9. to je test 9
E-democracy developments in the
Republic of Slovenia
Participatory & deliberative democracy approach (cyber idealism)
On-line forums, e-consultations, e-debates
Supplementing official decision-making (European topics / funding)
Off-line and on-line participation
Source: Simon Delakorda (INePA), 2017

10. to je test 10

more than 1.000 published contributions

25.000 unique visitors (http://evropske-razprave.si/)

9 consultation reports from facilitators

17 official feedback from MEPs

ePractice Editors Choice recognition 2007

Informal learning NEFIKS recognition 2011
On-line Citizen's forum (2006-2012)

11. Transparency
of participation
Societal conflicts
management
Accountable
decisions
Good governance
Legitimacy
Innovative approach

12. Meaningful results
delivery
Administration of
relevant information
Argumentative
responsiveness
Stakeholders
inputs facilitation

13. to je test 13
An early lessons from e-participation

alignment to relevant public opinion and policy-making topics

policy content presentation and production

decision-makers involvement (feedback and impact)

multichannel on-line / off-line dissemination and target groups
involvement

user-centric attitude

involving NGOs as partners and end users

sustainability (process management / facilitation and funding)
Source: Puzzled by Policy project www.puzzledbypolicy.eu

14. to je test 14
Let’s Improve Maribor
Source: https://izboljsajmo.maribor.si/

15. to je test 15
Ljubljana city municipality projects

16. to je test 16
On-line surveys

17. to je test 17
Social media

18. to je test 18
Results from field research

Project “Popularising digital democracy in the cities of Kranj and
Velenje”

Purpose: To promote and advocate digital tools among local
residents and governments for the purpose of developing
participatory and innovative democracy.

Duration: 24 July 2017 – 31 January 2018

Field research in Gorenjska in Savinjska region for the purpose
of collecting original data on local residents needs and
proposals on how to use Internet for improving democracy in
their communities.

Methods: on-line questionnaire, face-to-face interviews and
regional workshops in city of Kranj and city of Velenje.
Source: “Popularising digital democracy in the cities of Kranj and Velenje” http://inepa.si/local-digital-democracy/

19. to je test 19
The use of the internet for participation in
municipality decision-making
(n=143)

information access 75%

e-poll (25 %)

e-mail / on-line form 23 %

on-line video stream 18 %

comments 16 %

problem identification 15 %

social media 15 %

e-petition 12 %

e-forum 7 %
Source: “Popularising digital democracy in the cities of Kranj and Velenje” http://inepa.si/local-digital-democracy/

20. to je test 20
What participation options are you missing on
municipality web site
(1 - do not miss 2 - neither/nor 3 - do miss) N=129

on-line semaphore of local municipality project implementation
2.7

on-line questionnaire on local residents opinion 2.6

problem identification and providing initiatives relation to local
environment via interective map 2.6

participatory budgeting 2.5

enabling feedback to local municipalities regulation, plans and
strategies 2.4
Source: “Popularising digital democracy in the cities of Kranj and Velenje” http://inepa.si/local-digital-democracy/

21. to je test 21
Common reasons for not e-participating
(1- rarely, 2-occasionally, 3- often) N=132

lack of information about possibilities for involvement 2.6

participation is not taken into account / does not have an impact
2.6

no opportunities for engagement / local municipality is not
asking people about their opinion 2,6

lack of knowledge / complexity of local issues 2.5

low interest for local municipality affairs 2.4

fear of being exposed / distrust into local municipality 2.3
Source: “Popularising digital democracy in the cities of Kranj and Velenje” http://inepa.si/local-digital-democracy/

22. to je test 22
Main conclusions from the survey

positive attitude towards the role of the internet in strengthening
local residents participation in decision-making (cyber-
optimism);

significant imbalance in using information based e-participation
vs. interactive based e-participation (deliberation);

the rise of the “passive democratic feedback” as a result of
managerial administration of local affairs (individualisation of
opinions, balance between democracy and effectiveness)

high expectations of local residents regarding local municipality
transparency, indetification of residents needs and problem
solving

ureasons for not using of e-participation channel are often at
side of local municipalities / decision-makers
Source: “Popularising digital democracy in the cities of Kranj and Velenje” http://inepa.si/local-digital-democracy/

23. to je test 23
Technological determinism vs. social constructivism

Interactivity approach: ICTs enable political action, social
aspects affects what activities are performed (Hoff & Storgaard
(2005).

24. to je test 24
Recommendations local
municipalities
1) Explore local residents needs and interests for various
forms of e-participation.
2) Plan and develop e-participation tools in cooperation with
users.
3) Manage existing e-participation tools in accountable,
responsive and transparent way (integration)
4) Report publicly about results and impacts of e-participation.
5) Keep residents informed of existing opportunities for e-
participation.
6) Involve social media Twitter and Facebook if they bring an
added value.

25. to je test 25
THANK YOU!
simon.delakorda@inepa.si
www.inepa.si
facebook.com/institut.inepa
twitter.com/Institut_INePA
si.linkedin.com/in/simondelakorda