My comments below. Check out: http://bit.ly/citizenparttechNDIstudy
"The recent, rapid rise in the use of digital technology is changing relationships between citizens, organizations and public institutions, and expanding political participation. But while technology has the potential to amplify citizens’ voices, it must be accompanied by clear political goals and other factors to increase their clout." My reply to this article: Technology not always transformative in advancing democracy, finds paper http://www.fiercegovernmentit.com/story/technology-not-always-transformative-advancing-democracy-finds-paper/2014-06-01 From: Steven Clift <[email protected]> Date: Tue, Jun 3, 2014 at 7:01 AM Subject: [ogp] Technology not always transformative in advancing democracy, finds paper - FierceGovernmentIT To: OGP Civil Society group <[email protected]> I wrote my reply to this a number of years ago: http://stevenclift.com/?p=108 Democratic Evolution or Virtual Civil War Remarks as prepared by Steven Clift for the Promise of E-Democracy WSIS Event, Geneva, Switzerland, December 2003 ... As I wrote this back in 2003, it pre-dates Facebook. Today we actually see my #3 as something that is happening more and more as Facebook in particular is used more in local community and civic life not just personal private life. Overall, the key in my experience is democratic intent. Without it, we get the amplification of the most partisan voices which are most motivated or resourced to use ICTs in politics/governance from a competition for power basis. So the kind of report headline I would like to see is: Democratic transformers get past the hype and find the best technology strategies to advance citizen participation I will say, that one should not underestimate the power of timely access to government information (before decisions are taken) that allow people to act on that information. Everyday, thousands upon thousands of people find out about key things online and act on that information ... the challenge at least on the tech side is that representative institutions have not invested in the tools of listening and understanding the public in democracy. Because I live in one of the most wired U.S. states (#3) that is also known for relatively high civic participation and a non-pretentious can-do neighborhood with "small homes and big hearts" where people are willing to talk ... I either live in a bubble or the future for all. :-) So imagine if over 30% of the households around you were connected in a community life exchange online (in an area with 10,000 or so residents) - http://e-democracy.org/se They mix useful exchange on topics like getting water out of your basement (this week's topic) and also have dynamic exchanges on local public issues. I experience this everyday. In my view, every neighborhood in every city should have vital public spaces online using whatever platform you like where the public can not only have a voice, they can also work together to get things done as citizens. So, I leave you with two recent topics (we embrace "public" open to all engagement using real names for power) that represent perhaps a future you to would like to see in your own neighborhood and THEN across your country: 1. Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha Regional Plan http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1G68uAk4WXmOIxgSCA0z3b 2. Reaction to test four way stop - has both passionate "no" reaction with others sharing motivation for safety http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/7HiZQdtuAztPgyUI51TwOj (Today, we see online groups like these popping up on Facebook in particular.) So, it is my view/experience as I articulated in the speech - http://stevenclift.com/?p=108 - that we need a bottom-up approach that builds citizen participation into online engagement right at the local level and then connects up regionally and nationally. Without this, we get stuck with attempts to use tech to engage citizens as idealized individuals with structurally distant organizations and institutions essentially designed for stakeholder/interest group engagement. This then of course feeds back into why OGP needs a local government/governance cluster of work ... which I hope is pursued. Steven Clift E-Democracy.org On Jun 2, 2014 1:49 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: > > FYI. > > Patrice McDermott, Executive Director > > OpenTheGovernment.org > > 202.332.6736 > > > > ________________________________ > > http://www.fiercegovernmentit.com/story/technology-not-always-transformative-advancing-democracy-finds-paper/2014-06-01 > > Citizen participation can be advanced through the use of technology – whether > by providing better access to information or improving communication with > officials – but probably not to the extent that some believe, says a new > report. > > The hopes that technology can transform the spread of democracy is driven by > apparently underlying, yet largely untested, assumptions that technology can > increase the quantity, quality and influence of citizen participation, says a > National Democratic Institute paper (pdf) published May 21. > > "Despite the exuberance for new technologies, there is not enough data > available on the impacts they have had on the political processes and > institutions they are intended to influence in emerging democracies," says > the report. > > The report – which is based on conversations with public officials, review of > NDI programs and conclusions from its research team – finds that politically > strengthening citizens' voices is a challenge that's political and not > technological in nature. > > The report also finds that technology that is used to promote the voice of > citizen's groups, therefore amplifying their voices, had a greater impact. > > Authors also note that the use of crowdsourcing technology will not > necessarily spur citizens to self-organize around a political cause. > > "Technology may have changed institutions' ability to respond to citizen > demands but its mere presence has not fundamentally changed actual government > responsiveness," write report authors. > > For more: > > > - download the paper, "Citizen Participation and Technology: An NDI study," > (.pdf) > > > > You are receiving this message because you are a member of the community OGP > Civil Society group. > > View this contribution on the web site > > A reply to this message will be sent ONLY to the sender; it will NOT be > archived on the web site. > > Reply to all community members | Unsubscribe You are receiving this message because you are a member of the community OGP Civil Society group. 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