‘E-participation’ – the use of online tools to help people engage with the democratic process – has a “surprisingly weak” effect on democratic decision-making, according to a new study.
‘Empowering communities to influence local decision making – A systematic review of the evidence’ (
http://fastlink.headstar.com/clg1 )
was produced by academics from De Montfort University and University of Southampton for the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The study examined existing evidence of community empowerment, analysing the effects of a series of online participation ‘mechanisms’ including electronic forums, e-petitions and participatory budgeting.
“Despite a growing interest in electronic forms of participation…the ways in which the…devices actually empower individuals or communities, and the extent to which they have a direct influence on decision making, is often ignored,” the report finds.
In fact, electronic forums and petitions have “only a very limited impact” on citizens’ lives, the report finds. Such tools are more successful in empowering individuals, rather than communities, it says.
The review also finds that the UK’s ongoing digital divide – lack of access to the internet in many homes – is still a significant limiting factor in e-engagement.
