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28. September 2010 – 16:57 by John Heaven (TuTech Innovation GmbH)
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The PEP-NET Special Issue of eJournal of eDemocracy (JeDEM), which Francesco Molinari and Rolf Lührs guest edited, is now available at www.jedem.org. It addresses the topic “sustainable eParticipation”, asking what ‘sustainable’ means in this context and turning to experts in the field for advice on ensuring European eParticipation projects overcome problems with low participation rates and impact.
The Special Issue contains a total of nine papers, three of which are invited papers from prominent eParticipation actors. The remaining six are scientific research papers and case studies.
The authors are successful in shedding new light on eParticipation, with a wealth of hints and tips on how to make eParticipation sustainable. Here is a list of concrete prerequisites for sustainable eParticipation gathered from the various papers as part of the editorial:
- A favourable policy and legislative framework (Chrissafis and Rohen, Hinsberg);
- Official recognition from the public decision-makers (Badouard);
- Efficient (Velikanov) and transparent (Johnston) procedures for the aggregation and visualisation of user preferences;
- Trust building on the whole process (Rodrigues Filho);
- A suitable ICT infrastructure (Hinsberg, Hermida) posing weak constraints on users’ behaviour (Badouard) and making the most out of the inputs (Li);
- A community of active (Hinsberg) and skilled (Maier-Rabler and Huber) citizens;
- A participatory culture among the population (Li, Maier-Rabler and Huber).
Of course it is not possible to distil the whole journal into a single blog post – you will simply have to read the journal to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience that it reflects by visting http://www.jedem.org/.
The journal was ready in time for last week’s PEP-NET Summit, at which the issue of sustainability was also raised. Like the Summit, the JeDEM Special Issue benefited from PEP-NET’s unique network of eParticipation actors across Europe and will help to ensure that there is ongoing reflection on how eParticipation can make a positive, long-term contribution to our democratic culture. JeDEM is published twice per year since first being published in 2009. The Centre for E-Government at the Danube University in Krems, Austria, manages the publication process which involves a team of 35 editors.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
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28. May 2008 – 09:30 by Danish Technological Institute
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The PEP-NET kick-off meeting and workshop on 21-21 May 2008 in Hamburg (DE) brought together experts to discuss their visions and expectations for PEP-NET along with the possible advantages of the initiatives. One such discussion focused on the scientific and research community in particular. In addition to the formal vision and aims of PEP-NET the workgroup members discuss how each could bring their unique abilities and resources to the network. The outcome of the discussions relevant for scientists and researchers is highlighted below:
VISION
- Bring together different aspects, domain and expertise for mutual learning and benefit and to further the scientific and research work related to eParticipation
- Consolidate and further work of the eParticipation community
- Act as a resource/hub bringing together practitioners, academia, public, private and stakeholder communities
EXPECTATIONS
- Facilitate synergies between existing networks (e.g. DEMO-NET) and projects (e.g. eParticipation study) NOT duplication of existing initiatives e.g. good practice cases (ePractice.eu and DEMO-NET)
- Mutual exchange and consultation between members of the network.
- PEP-NET as a resource for expertise including for researchers (incl students) to identify examples for study and vice versa
- PEP-NET as a dissemination channel of research relevant to the eParticipation community
ADVANTAGES
- Access and contact with practitioners and public administration for research, gaining and sharing knowledge and cases for research
- Good and bad practice exchange brought to practitioners and others outside the research community
- Bring to other stakeholders scientific methodology, academic research and test-pilots
- Exchange could reveal gabs for further research
- Provide interesting network for potential partners
ABILITIES AND RESOURCES FOR PEP-NET
- Bring in expertise from past, present and future projects and initiatives
- Introduce our partners and networks to PEP-NET for synergies but also to increase awareness of eParticipation as a topic
- Scientific methodology and research mapping relevant to decision makers (public and private)
- Provide an scientific test bed
- Dissemination of events, research done, new trends, proto types, solutions etc.
- “exchange/recruitment” of staff could be an interesting aspect
- Research community could in theory offer training (at what cost) or act as a source of competence development
- eDemocracy Awards, dissemination and publicity channel
- Multiplier effect in relation to the scientific and research community
Posted by: Morten Meyerhoff Nielsen, Danish Technological Institute, Business and Policy Analysis
Posted in Visions | 1 Comment »
