scholarly journals Mediating the Web as a Public Space

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seija Ridell
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Social Boundaries ◽  
Public Communication ◽  
Cultural Significance ◽  
Experimental Project ◽  
The Web

Abstract Amidst the commercial hype that has come to surround the internet in recent years, there has been much excitement about the democratic promise of the net and a growing wave of various e-democracy projects. It is thought that the ICTs and the world wide web in particular will enable more direct forms of citizen participation, especially at the local level, foster reciprocal interaction between citizens and decision-makers and create new spaces for public discussion and debate. Despite the claims of interactivity, the agenda for most online democracy projects has been set and their purposes of communication defined by institutionalized and powerful actors. The disparity between the rhetoric and the reality of web-assisted democracy is bound to persist unless the compartmentalized and hierarchic practices of public communication are challenged both theoretically and in practice. This article suggests that in order to tap the democratic potential of the web, we need to address the question of genre. As genres offer the cultural interfaces through which people make sense of and use the web, like other media, bottom-up alternatives to dominant online genres are needed in order to create more citizen-oriented spaces of public communication on the web. By drawing upon an experimental project where academic research co-operated with local grassroots citizen groups and actively mediated interaction on the web across social boundaries and power hierarchies, the article aims to demonstrate the socio-cultural significance of civic web genres.

ICTs and the Communicative Conditions for Democracy

2011 ◽  
pp. 85-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seija Ridell
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Public Communication ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Action Research Project ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
New Information ◽  
Concrete Action ◽  
Experimental Project ◽  
Information And Communication

In this chapter, the contribution of new information and communication technologies to enhancing democracy at the local level is articulated as a practical and empirical question that pertains to the locally established patterns and practices of public communication. It is suggested that in order to realize the democratic potential inherent in ICTs, the compartmentalized, hierarchical and one-way practices of both administrative-political machinery and the mainstream media must be exposed and challenged through concrete action. The article draws upon a participatory action research project in which alternative, dialogical and citizen-oriented forms of web-mediated public communication were created and maintained in close collaboration with grass-roots civic actors and groups. In the experimental project, specific efforts were made to enable and encourage online encounters between those local stakeholders that rarely meet in the discursive public spaces of mainstream media.

ICTs and the Communicative Conditions for Democracy

2008 ◽  
pp. 840-861
Author(s):  
Seija Ridell
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Public Communication ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Action Research Project ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
New Information ◽  
Concrete Action ◽  
Experimental Project ◽  
Information And Communication

In this chapter, the contribution of new information and communication technologies to enhancing democracy at the local level is articulated as a practical and empirical question that pertains to the locally established patterns and practices of public communication. It is suggested that in order to realize the democratic potential inherent in ICTs, the compartmentalized, hierarchical and one-way practices of both administrative-political machinery and the mainstream media must be exposed and challenged through concrete action. The article draws upon a participatory action research project in which alternative, dialogical and citizen-oriented forms of web-mediated public communication were created and maintained in close collaboration with grass-roots civic actors and groups. In the experimental project, specific efforts were made to enable and encourage online encounters between those local stakeholders that rarely meet in the discursive public spaces of mainstream media.

scholarly journals XarxaSalut, network of municipalities for health, Valencia Region (Spain): policy process evaluation

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Peiró Pérez ◽  
E Pérez Sanz ◽  
E Legaz Sanchez ◽  
J Quiles Izquierdo ◽  
Grupo XarxaSalut
Keyword(s):  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Common Language ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Economic Support ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Impact

Abstract “XarxaSalut” started in 2017, with the municipalities that have taken the commitment to boost the Promotion of Health (HP) at the local level through community participation, intersectorality and equity perspective. The objective is to present a policy process evaluation (2'5 years) of the implementation of XarxaSalut. Different approaches have been used; a questionnaire addressed to the municipalities at the time of adhesion including data on intersectorality, participation, HP actions and open questions; description of instruments that Regional Public Health Authorities (RPHA) has mobilized and an analysis of barriers and strengths made by the coordination office. In 2017, 17 municipalities were joined, being 197 in February 2020 (70% of the population). 65% are in a process of an organizational change through the intersectoral, decision making and participative working group. 35% are doing analysis of determinants and /or health situation, assets maps and a prioritization of HP actions. The main barriers identified by municipalities are lack of economic and personal resources, and difficulties in achieve citizen participation. The main benefits were the optimization of resources, the exchange of experiences, training, or economic support from the RPHA. Some support instruments develop for RPHA are a collection of guides for community development, funds that the municipalities can apply to support actions related with training, HP action on vulnerable population, on asset maps, participation processes, vulnerable neighborhoods, etc.; Community actions have been included in the “Health Observatory” to give visibility and social support to XarxaSalut. Interdisciplinary training processes with health and municipal professionals have been made in order to develop a common language and strength the competences for HP. Lesson learned: The need to improve coordination and a common language between different types of participants and professionals Key messages The decision makers and professionals in the municipalities understand the impact in health of the policies developed at local level but needs guide and support to deal with it. The coordination between different administrations and primary health at local level and the misunderstandings about health and their determinants are the main aspect to reinforce.

scholarly journals Challenges to the Jordanian Electronic Government Initiative

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ala M. Abu-Samaha ◽  
Yara Abdel Samad
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Communication Channel ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Electronic Government ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Limited Success ◽  
Government Initiative ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
The Web

This paper aims to present a number of key challenges to the Jordanian Electronic Government Initiative as a precursor to embracing mobile government (the future electronic governmental service provision). The first wave of electronic governmental services was delivered through the web as the sole communication channel. Despite the limited success of a small number of governmental entities to utilise such a communication channel, the very limited penetration of the Internet in Jordan has dampened such cases of success and pushed key decision makers at the Electronic Government Initiative to consider more popular alternative communication media. This paper reflects on Jordan’s past experience with electronic government to identify lessons learnt to be carried on to future mobile and second wave of electronic governmental service provisions.

scholarly journals Tourism observatories for monitoring MED destinations performance

Tourism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-481
Author(s):  
Dario Bertocchi ◽  
Nicola Camatti ◽  
Jan Van der Borg
Keyword(s):  
Web 2.0 ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Simulation Tool ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Web

Following the precedent set by the Tourism Observatory (TO) run by the European Commission-DG GROW a few years ago, several initiatives have taken place to design and manage tourism observatories at both the transnational and local level. However, these initiatives do not yet seem able to provide adequate operational responses to the challenges that the Commission launched with the original TO. While the opportunities offered by the Web 2.0 still do not seem to have been sufficiently taken advantage of, such initiatives also have not yet developed suitable methodologies to operationally include the tourism industry in the studies and monitoring performed by the TOs. This work presents the lesion learnt from the ShapeTourism prototype including two different tools: an observatory with official and unofficial indicators, and a simulation tool to predict different scenarios and different sustainability levels, designed specifically to overcome the aforementioned limits. The prototype was tested in 2017 on the entire eligible area of ​​the 2014-2020 MED Programme covering 52 regions. The potentialities of this tool are shown through the creation on indicators, benchmarking and applications.

scholarly journals Participatory Urban Planning: What Would Make Planners Trust the Citizens?

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Åström
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Trust Building ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Public Managers ◽  
General Weakness

Based on the critical stance of citizens towards urban planning, growing attention has been directed towards new forms of citizen participation. A key expectation is that advanced digital technologies will reconnect citizens and decision makers and enhance trust in planning. However, empirical evidence suggests participation by itself does not foster trust, and many scholars refer to a general weakness of these initiatives to deliver the expected outcomes. Considering that trust is reciprocal, this article will switch focus and concentrate on planners’ attitudes towards citizens. Do urban planners generally think that citizens are trustworthy? Even though studies show that public officials are more trusting than people in general, it is possible that they do not trust citizens when interacting with government. However, empirical evidence is scarce. While there is plenty of research on citizens’ trust in government, public officials trust in citizens has received little scholarly attention. To address this gap, we will draw on a survey targeted to a representative sample of public managers in Swedish local government (N = 1430). First, urban planners will be compared with other public officials when it comes to their level of trust toward citizens’ ability, integrity and benevolence. In order to understand variations in trust, a set of institutional factors will thereafter be tested, along with more commonly used individual factors. In light of the empirical findings, the final section of the article returns to the idea of e-participation as a trust-building strategy. What would make planners trust the citizens in participatory urban planning?

Concerns Management, E-Government and E-Participation

2018 ◽  
pp. 1488-1503
Author(s):  
Tobias Vaerst ◽  
Theresa Steffens ◽  
Robert Lokaiczyk
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Management System ◽  
Communication Channel ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Internet Technology ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Smartphone Applications ◽  
Public Infrastructure ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Service Channel

Advancements in internet technology have profoundly changed communication between citizens and government authorities. Concerns management systems and smartphone applications offer new and convenient channels of interaction. In Germany, the “Mängelmelder” platform offers a nationwide service channel for local citizens' concerns. Citizens generally use this communication channel for reporting public infrastructure defects. This paper examines whether the “Mängelmelder” platform – with customized systems can facilitate further citizen participation at the local level in Germany. Analysing different customized systems shows that possibilities for further use depend on the way in which local authorities handle the citizens' input. It could not be proven that offering an open category for citizens' recommendations (in a customized concerns management system) has an impact on further citizen participation. But using digital citizen services, such as concerns management platforms, can indeed facilitate increased citizen participation.

Cultural Heritage Management at the Local Level

2013 ◽  
pp. 245-262
Author(s):  
Lorena Rocca ◽  
Aline Chiabai ◽  
Livio Chiarullo
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Heritage Management ◽  
Tourist Destinations ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Governance Processes ◽  
Advanced Access ◽  
The Web

In a virtual space conveniently chosen, citizens of the Web can interact and develop social capital and empowerment, intended as the consciousness of possibilities to influence the social context and to improve it, by increasing capacity of taking reasoned decisions on problems and of adopting adequate behaviour to face them. The Web can be seen in this sense as an innovative decisional system where it is possible to activate processes of electronic governance (e-governance) to make notions and expectations appear for a self-promoted and self-sustained local development. From this basis, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei has taken part to the research project ISAAC (Integrated e-Services for Advanced Access to Heritage in Cultural Tourist Destinations)1, with the objective of designing, experiencing, and testing innovative forms of participation by taking advantage of the potential of the New Technologies for Information and Communication (NTIC) to support and promote e-governance processes.

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