Citizens' electronic participation: a systematic review of their challenges and how to overcome them. (10th July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oliveira, Carlos; Garcia, Ana C.B.
• Is Part Of: International journal of Web based communities. Volume 15:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 123
• Page End: 150
• Publication Date: 2019-07-10
• Subjects: systematic review -- e-participation -- engagement; Online social networks -- Periodicals; Social media -- Periodicals; World Wide Web -- Periodicals; 302.30285
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-8394

Abstract

The evolution of the internet and the popularity of the social media have brought new possibilities for citizens' participation into government decision-making. Laws, in democratic countries, have enforced government's data and process transparency. Nevertheless, the e-government research has demonstrated that citizen's participation is still very low. This paper presents a systematic literature review of e-participation research addressing three questions: 1) what are the reasons for the low citizens' participation?; 2) what is the role of the government in e-participation?; 3) what are the current approaches to promote e-participation? Although participation is a right for which the citizens should be fighting for, they have been neglecting to act. Researchers have indicated the government still plays a central role since information and opportunities flow through the government-controlled technological platforms. Nonetheless, there is hope, to initiate a virtuous cycle in which citizens control and expand popular participation, leading to a greater demand for government action.