Building and Sustaining Democratic and Accountable Governance Institutions using ICT
|
Information Access and Flow (new!)
Geometry of Information Flows (new!)
|
Publications
Online articles, papers and books on application of ICT in Governance. Suggest possible additions by writing at knownet@knownetweaver.org
Also browse the Publications on ICT for Development at http://www.cddc.vt.edu/knownet/internetinfo-publications.html
Last Updated : October 2003 Number of Publications: 116
Electronic Governance: Abridged Definitive Conceptual Framework Rogers WâO Okot-Uma, Commonwealth Secretariat London http://www.commonwealthdigitalopportunities.com/gif/eGovernance.PDF An abridged definitive conceptual framework is presented for Electronic Governance (eGovernance). The framework relies on the time-proven principle of introducing a concept by progressing from the Îknownâ to the Îunknownâ. The framework accordingly avoids progression from the axiomatic but takes cognisance for the need to derive the definition of Electronic Governance from the more well-known concept of Good Governance that predates it.
Of Modems and Men: Installing E-Government in the E-east http://lgi.osi.hu/publications/2003/217/english.pdf The aim of this issue of the Local Government Brief is to illuminate the (increasing) evolution, progress and promise of e-government in Eurasia and beyond. The possibilities are exciting: faster access to government services and public servants, lower costs for administrative services, greater public access to budgets and documents and a corresponding increase in the transparency and accountability of government activities. But with the promise of e-government also come challenges. For instance, in parts of the region, the "Digital Divide" threatens to deepen the chasm between the haves and the have-nots. Where the Internet is not available, the technological "know-how" untapped and incentives lacking, the concept of e-government seems highly impractical. All of these topics and concerns will be addressed in this Local Government Brief from the Open Society Institute.
Digital Governance Models: moving towards good governance in developing countries Vikas Nath http://www.innovation.cc/volumes&issues/Nath%20Digital.pdf Introduction of Digital Governance is a way to ensure that common citizens have equal right to be a part of decision-making processes which affect them directly or indirectly, and influence them in a manner which best improves their conditions and the quality of lives. The new form of governance will ensure that citizens are no longer passive consumers of services offered to them and would transform them to play a decisive role in deciding the kind of services they want and the structure which could best provide the same. ICT can influence the process of Governance in various ways and in varying degrees, from improving the current mechanisms of delivery of services to transforming the entire mechanism and the nature of services themselves. The role could be:
ð Technical role, in terms of automation of tedious tasks earlier done by humans. ð Facilitating role, leading to participatory and all encompassing decision-making and implementation processes. ð Innovative role, involving new services and mechanisms to deliver these
E-Parliament as a tool for fostering parliamentarian networks Pierre Dandjinou http://www.undp.org/surf-wa/links/NEPAD/parliamentarians/docsen/eparliamenten.htm The other reasons why ICTs and the new media environment matter for parliaments and governments alike are the following : the declining confidence in political institutions, including legislature and laws calls for the establishment of a Îparliament and governmentâs public relation strategy; then, this new dynamically changing environment will require new strategies for political planning and action. It is quite obvious that the press and electronic media make a contribution to making political decision making process more transparent as well as simplifying the political and legislative information to the ordinary citizen.
Information Age Government: Success Stories of Online Land Records & Revenue Governance from Dr K M Baharul Islam http://www.uneca.org/codi/Documents/PDF/Information%20Age%20Government.pdf Several national development and planning polices repeatedly focused on land as an asset, which provides the primary and secondary needs of the people. As such for successful implementation developmental projects needed proper and correct land records. Emergence of computer as a cornerstone of quicker storing, processing and retrieving of information database initiated the government into computerisation of traditional land records. Decentralised planning and administration as envisaged in the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India made it more necessary to collect timely and accurate data on land use for national planning process.
Cultural Dimensions of E-Governance N Vittal, Central Vigilance Commissioner , India http://www.cvc.nic.in/vscvc/cvcspeeches/sp4oct01.pdf Talk delivered in the IIIT&M, Gwalior, 20.10.2001 There are at least four sources, which gives rise to cultural resistance to e-governance. The first is the government culture of secrecy. The culture of secrecy is further strengthened by the Official Secrets Act. The second source of cultural resistance is from corruption. Red tape and delays have bred corruption and in fact the lack of transparency also has been a source of corruption. E-governance tries to remove these basic factors that promote corruption in the governmental system. But vested interests who are deriving benefits under the present system may resist the extensive application of e-governance because of this factor. The third source of resistance is the culture of seniority, which is very rigidly observed in government. When it comes to IT, it may be the junior officers and staff who may be more familiar and comfortable with computers and IT systems but it is the seniors who take all policy decisions. The fourth source of cultural resistance for e-governance would be sheer lack of imagination. The emphasis in government most of the time is on red tape, procedures and systems. Doing a thing rightly is more important in government than doing the right thing. Innovation is the key for success and generally the bureaucratic culture discourages innovation. On the other hand, if e-governance has to succeed, we need a lot of innovation. How are we to overcome this problem?
Vikas Nath Cover Story. E-Commerce. Volume 2, No. 4 July 2002 http://srijansolutions.com/july_index.asp
Plan of Action: E-Government for Development Government of Italy and UNDESA http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan006022.pdf This Plan of Action aims at providing guidelines and a platform to government institutions, non-governmental actors and international organizations, to support building the required capacity of the public service to become more efficient and effective. Through e-government for development it is hoped that the world will be in a better position to meet the millennium development goals.
E-Governance and Developing Countries
http://www.ftpiicd.org/files/research/reports/report3.pdf This report explains what is meant by e-Governance. It starts with a definition of e-governance and then presents a general model.
Information Technology for Good Governance (In Philippines) Francisco Magno and Ramonette Serafica http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan002708.pdf IT promotes good governance in three basic ways: (1) by increasing transparency, information, and accountability; (2) by facilitating accurate decision-making and public participation; and (3) by enhancing the efficient delivery of public goods and services. The citizen's right to gain access to public documents is supported under the country's constitutional framework. Promotion of this right is pursued through the governmentâs computerization program and the availability of these documents through the Internet. Many government agencies use IT facilities to tell the public about their accomplishments, achievements, programs, and plans.
Governance, Information and the Public Sphere M. A. Mohamed Salih http://www.uneca.org/codi/Documents/PDF/Governance%20information%20and%20the%20public%20sphere_8.pdf This paper introduces the main factors behind the current debate on governance and its relevance to the African content. It highlights Africaâs recent achievements in improving its political governance image and the difficulties the continent is experiencing in improving its economic governance image. Recent Transparency International reports reveal that the African continent as a whole is far less corrupt than some of its transition economiesâ trade and investment competitors. Such relatively positive reports challenge the norm and lead to the question whether framing the good governancedebate on trust building between government and citizens based on better access to information, transparency and accountability rather than divulging an image of a corrupt continent would yield better results.
Benchmarking E-government: A Global Perspective ÷Assessing the UN Member Stateshttp://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan003984.pdf A research study analyzing the approach, progress and commitment on the part of the 190 UN Member States on E-government. Two methodologies were used in the research. First, national government websites were analyzed for the content and services available that the average citizen would most likely use. The presence, or absence of specific features contributed to determining a country's level of progress. Second, a statistical analysis was done comparing the information and communication technology infrastructure and human capital capacity for 144 UN Member States. The final measure or E-Government Index could be useful tool for policy-planners as an annual benchmark.
The E-government Handbook for Developing Countries InfoDev and Centre for Development and Technology http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan007462.pdf This Handbook attempts for the first time to catalog and present key resources on e-government in a format readily useful for policymakers in the developing world. Among the many promises of the digital revolution is its potential to strengthen democracy and make governments more responsive to the needs of their citizens. E-government is the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to transform government by making it more accessible, effective and accountable.
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/untc/unpan003864.pdf Albania is still fighting against its 50 years build up centralised system in this long transitional period. Networking is limited to those international organisations and a few government institutions. Technology as a tool for better governance and quality management is almost missing at the local level, while the Government of Albania is strongly committed to proceed with the local government decentralisation reform. Database processing and public use of information is at the early stage of development and still is considered as future potential expectation for better governance.
Internet In The Service Of Democracy: A UNESCO Survey Of E Governance In 15 Countries http://portal.unesco.org/ci/ev.php?URL_ID=3039&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201&reload=1044372517 This article reports on conclusions of a recent joint study by UNESCO and the Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development (COMNET-IT) on e-governance in 15 countries. The study shows that the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in government processes is fostering a closer relationship between citizens and states, pushing official bodies towards more transparency and accountability. They are also posing a challenge to traditional decision-making structures.
Cristal: A Tool for Transparent Government in Argentina http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/cristal_cs.htm The mission of the Cristal Government initiative, launched by the current administration, is to disseminate online, and in an easily understood format, all information concerning the use of public funds in Argentina. This includes information not only about the amounts of money devoted to different programs, but also how these funds are administered.
Roadmap for E-government in the Developing World: 10 Questions E-Government Leaders Should Ask Themselves http://www.pacificcouncil.org/pdfs/e-gov.paper.f.pdf The report of the Working Group on E-Government in the Developing World. April 2002.
GOVERNMENT@NET: New Governance Opportunities for India http://www.developmentgateway.org/download/112962/government@net.htm This book shatters the prevailing myth that only the elite will reap the benefit of the Internet. On the contrary, it says that Internet is more than just a technology it is a social phenomenon. Everyone in India can benefit from it. According to the authors, India could well be on the way to becoming an information and knowledge society and contrary to popular perception, its impact will be far-reaching, down to the villages and could bridge traditional divides. A web-enabled country would have other advantages too. Doctors in villages could get wired to big hospitals in any major city and consult online with senior doctors in case of medical emergencies.
Modernizing
Malaysia‰s government http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/cs/malaysia/material/MYS
CS.pdf Malaysia‰s e-government initiative, similar to that of many other governments around the world, is designed to create a paperless public sector, while also strengthening relationships with citizens and businesses through greater transparency and information flows. The Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) seeks to enhance the use of ICTs and has mandated that each government agency create an IT strategy plan to help facilitate greater communication between agencies and the public. This includes the Smart Partnership Application Repository (RAPP), the Government Integrated Telecommunication Network (GITN) and a VPN that connects all government agencies throughout project implementation processes.
E-Government: Considerations for Arab States
http://www.surf-as.org/Papers/e-gov-english.PDF This paper presents analysis of the various stages and dimensions of e-government. This conceptual breakdown should help achieve a better comprehension of the phenomenon and the means to capitalize on IT opportunities for better government and governance, particularly in Arab States. It also tabulates the actions that will advance e-government through the various stages presented, along with the current conditions in the Arab world vis-a-vis conditions and comparative experiences in other countries. The three e-government dimensions (G2C, G2B, and G2G) are fitted against the stages of e- government, to highlight interesting examples (including UNDP activities) under each stage/dimension. Steps to implement e-government provide utile insights to e-government implementers.
E-Government Special- Does it Exist in Africa and What Can it do? http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act_93.html Government forms such a large part of many countries‰ economies in Africa and therefore it is hardly surprising that there is an enormous level of interest in e-government. It has the potential to make processes more open, less corrupt and more efficient. In a continent in which functional government tends to be the exception rather than the rule, there is an understandable degree of scepticism.
Taylor Nelson Sofres Government Online Study 2001 http://www.tnsofres.com/gostudy/ The study is a result of interviews with over 29,000 individuals across 27 countries. The GO study was researched and written by Taylor Nelson Sofres. It provides global and national benchmarks relating to the use of government services online and perceptions of safety when providing personal information to Government.
A lot has been said about e-gov. However, there does not seem to be a good, widely shared definition of what e-gov is, or more importantly what it can be.
A Joint Study by the Southeast Europe Initiative of OneWorld International and the Information Program of the Open Society Institute. Southeast Europe was at the forefront of progressive use of new communication technologies in the 1990s. Examples include the bulletin boards of ZaMir Transitional Network that brought together anti-war and human rights groups when traditional communications had been destroyed or disrupted.
E-Government:
Enabling Asia-Pacific Governments and Citizens to do Public Business
Differently This paper begins with a brief review of the potential benefits of e-government in supporting public sector reform. It then gives some examples of adoption of e-government in recent years in the Asia-Pacific region, to see the extent to which these benefits have materialized. It analyzes six stages of e-government, and reviews both the benefits and challenges of each stage, highlighting different processes of adoption in different types of jurisdictions. Finally, there is a discussion of three major, cross-cutting challenges effecting all stages, and directions for further research.
Breaking Down Bureaucratic Barriers -The Next Phase of Digital Government Progressive Policy Institute http://pti.nw.dc.us/links/docs/digigov_ppiarticle.pdf This policy paper focuses on what they believe should be the next phase of e-government -- breaking down bureaucratic barriers to create functionally oriented, citizen-centered government Web presences designed to give citizens a self-service government.
Robin van Koert This research conceives of development as a process, aimed at increasing people's individual political, social and economic freedoms, or capabilities, and at enabling them to make their own choices and decisions. Free and independent information dissemination plays an important role in that process. In rural areas of developing countries, radio, for example, is very important in disseminating information. However, this information does not always meet the existing demand for information. In addition, physical distances typically hamper exchanges of existing information, knowledge and experience.
http://katherine.reilly.net/e-governance/LegislativeAssemblies.pdf Katherine Reilly This working paper is the first in a series of short think pieces that form part of the research process for a study of e-governance in Central America. This larger study is looking at the use of Internet by Central American governments. In particular, it will examine if Central American governments are making use of ICTs to improve transparency, participation, equity and accountability in public policy.
Prospects for more democracy in Great Britain Michael Wallace-Macpherson
By reviewing experimental and potential applications of digital technology (ICT) we were able to show that numerous innovations in democratic systems are possible given public and political will; and direct voting on issues could become much easier, better informed and so potentially wiser. It may prove to be that ICT will allows new forms of democracy to emerge, indeed some modifications, especially in the USA, have already been observed.
E-DEMOCRACY IN PRACTICE: Swedish experiences of a new political tool http://www.svekom.se/skvad/E-democracy-en.pdf There is a hope in many countries that IT will increase the degree of interest and involvement in politics and thus act as an aid to representative democracy. This hope is founded on the basic concept that the public should play an active part in everyday political life by interpreting what is good and what is bad.
Moses A. Boudourides http://www.math.upatras.gr/~mboudour/articles/pnict.pdf The paper briefly explores issues of infrastructures of information polity, informatisation of public administration, civic networking, regulation, information inequalities and ëdigital divide.‰ It then sketches the perspectives of a socially accountable policy for the new ICTs and concludes with the value of ëdemocratic rationalization.
Internet
and Democracy by all
China's Future Caught in the Web Nina Hachigian
E-GOVERNMENT : CONSIDERATIONS FOR ARAB STATES http://www.surf-as.org/Papers/e-gov-english.PDF E-government is the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by government agencies. Its use promises to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of government and alter its relationship with the public. E-government is evolving through four stages: from posting information to a two-way communication, and from exchange of value to an integrated service and exchange. UNDP has been supporting several e-government initiatives in the Arab world. Governments can promote e-government, in its various stages by formulating an E-vision, securing effective political commitment to undertake reforms; and incorporating the needs and opinions of major stakeholders.
Local and regional government online - timely services are key to success Local and provincial governments always claim to be closer to their citizens, in more than just a geographical sense, than their counterparts in national government can ever be. Around the world, e-government initiatives are being implemented, which may not only streamline administration, but also reinvigorate the democratic process.
Online opportunity to transform administrations and services at all levels http://specials.ft.com/ftit/june2001/FT3IICMY2OC.html While
e-government really refers to electronic transactions, not just to online
services, it is the internet's open standards that are driving the public
sector towards the sort of transformation experienced by the private sector
over the past ten years. But what is becoming clear is that the process
of putting public services online is about much more than IT. It demands
fundamental changes in the public sector's traditional structures and practices
and in the relationship between the state and its citizens.
What Citizens Want from E-Government http://www.ctg.albany.edu/egov/what_citizens_want.html Governments
in the US are using a variety of methods to find out what citizens want
from e-government services. Different methods generate different kinds
of results, with different levels of reliability. The Center for Technology
in Government at the University at Albany is conducting current practice
research into several areas of e-government. One practice that we are investigating
is how governments solicit input from citizens. This first report from
our study relies mostly on responses to an e-mail posting to the member
listserv of the National Association of State Information Resource Executives.
e-GOVERNMENT IN THE SERVICE OF DEMOCRACY Paul Waller, Peter Livesey, Karin Edin http://www.ica-it.org/docs/issue74/issue74-waller.pdf The
decline in participation in traditional democratic forums has provided
the impetus for governments
to consider how they might begin to provide a response to the democratic
deficit. Although
new technologies are not a panacea, they may provide a means of enriching democracy
and simplifying voting in elections and, therefore, go some way to help
increase democratic
participation ö so called e-democracy. This article is based on Graham
Stringerâs speech
delivered to the 3 rd Global Forum in Naples on 15 March 2001.
Reinventing Local Governments and the 'E-Government' Initiative Alfred Tat-Kei Ho http://www.public.iastate.edu/~alfredho/ITR/EGovtLocal_PARfinal.pdf The Internet provides a powerful tool to reinvent local governments. It encourages transformation from the traditional bureaucratic paradigm, which emphasizes standardization, departmentalization, and operational cost-efficiency, to the "e-government" paradigm, which emphasizes coordinated network building, external collaboration, and customer services. Based on a content analysis of city websites and a survey of web development officials, this paper shows that many cities are already moving toward this new paradigm.
Building an E-Government: A Toolkit for Malawi Paul Shaw, Asif Kassam and Kevin Newman http://www.africa-online.net/e-government.pdf This
E-Government Toolkit has been developed by Paul Shaw, CEO of Africa-Online,
a locally based Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Malawi, Asif Kassam,
Webmaster of Africa-Online, and Kevin Newman, Information Technology Planning
Adviser to the COMESA Bankersâ Association.
This Toolkit is based primarily on the experiences of Africa-Online working
with the Malawi Government, particularly the Ministry of Information and
National Statistics Office. While the target audience for this proposal
would be the national policy makers of Malawi, including civil servants
and elected officials, the application of this particular Toolkit would
be equally viable for all countries classified in the Least Developed Country
category, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Designing effective Websites for e-governance (Word Document) Neeta Verma, Sonal Kalra http://www.cddc.vt.edu/digitalgov/articles/egovernancepaperfinal.doc Citizen oriented governance is undoubtedly one of the most important considerations for the governments all over the world who are busy steering their respective countries into the 21st century. With the awareness levels of the common people on the rise, citizens demand more access to government information and an effective and easy interface in their dealings with the government. A more informed citizen is in a better position to exercise his/her rights, and better able to carry out his/her responsibilities within the community.
Critical success factors in Implementing eGovernment Doug Forbes http://www.centre-for-egovernment.com/images/powerpoint/Omantel2.ppt The presentation looks at e-governance- its success, failure, competitive pressure and managerial issues etc.
http://www.unpan.org/egovernment2.asp Developed in a partnership between the UNâs Division for Public Economics and Public Administration and the American Society for Public Administration, the UN/ASPA Survey will be the first study to catalogue the level of e-gov participation of all 189 UN Member States. The survey will introduce the E-Gov Index, and also analyse and profile Member States whose stage of commitment extends beyond the posting of information.
e-Japan Priority Policy Program http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/it/network/priority/index.html Japan
has set out a new eGovernment Action Plan to become the world's most advanced
IT nation within five years.
The Internet, e-mail, mobile phones, and satellite broadcasting have changed Asia's power equation If all the rapid, often violent changes that have swept across Asia in the past 20 years, none has shaken the region more than the revolution in communications. Asia's elders - its political, social and business leaders - had long clung to the strictly vertical, top-down communication pattern handed down over the centuries. Fathers did not discuss the whys and wherefores of the strictures they imposed on their children. Rulers told citizens what was good for them. Bosses told employees how to do their jobs. That sea change has shaped the selection process for this, Asiaweek's sixth annual ranking of the region's 50 most powerful people. Dr. Adam McCarty The research focus of this research project, of which this paper is one country case study, is to examine ãthe capacity of administrative and policy-making elitesä with a view to identifying ãneedsä. This focus follows the traditional approach of donors to treat governance largely, if not entirely, as a technical problem that may therefore benefit from ãobjectiveä assistance to raise ãawarenessä and meet ãidentified needsä. Accepting the welfare-maximising rhetoric of governments makes this inevitable.This approach ignores addressing the political and interest group dimensions of the governance challenge.
The Internet and Asia: Broadband or Broad Bans? Shanthi Kalathil Analyses
of recent political upheaval in authoritarian systems such as those in
Peru, Mexico, and Yugoslavia, largely ignore any role the Internet may
have played in spurring political change. At the same time, many experts
recognize that political activists in various countries may have affected
political developments by using Web sites and e-mail lists to communicate
and organize ÷ witness such activity in the years leading up to
the fall of long-standing Indonesian president Suharto. In sum, there is
no consensus on whether there is a clear-cut mechanism that connects the
Internet with democratic transitions around the world.
Cyber Censors: A Thousand Web Sites Almost Bloom Shanthi Kalathil Attempting
to control the Internet in China, as U.S. President Bill Clinton once mused,
was like trying to nail jello to a wall. But the truth behind the emerging
debate over the Internet's potential in China may actually prove hard to
pin down. Optimists, including Mr. Clinton and both his would-be successors,
usually claim that with China permitting thousands of Web sites to bloom,
liberty should soon be squiggling in by cell phone or by cable modem, despite
Beijing's crude attempts at control. Not only will authoritarian regimes
such as China eventually buckle under the slippery advance of free ideas
and information, but it'll be good for business to boot.
China and the Net: A love-hate relationship Recognizing
that an unregulated network would shift power from the state to citizens
by providing an extensive forum for discussion and collaboration, Beijing
has taken care to prevent this commercial gold mine from becoming political
quicksand. But a victory over cyberspace cannot be decisive because the
Internet cannot deliver its full commercial benefits under strict political
control.
http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=616957 The
trouble with liberal democracy, as any good authoritarian knows, is that
voters have a habit of electing the wrong people. That is why South-East
Asian dictators preferred their democracy to be, in the Indonesian phrase,
ãguidedä, or, to put it more bluntly, rigged.
Realising Democracy Online: A Civic Commons in Cyberspace http://www.citizensonline.org.uk/downloads/realising_democracy.pdf This
publication examines the potential of the Internet to encourage and foster
new forms of public involvement in civic and political affairs. The paper
explores the role for new technologies in promoting democracy.
Egovernment too little too late? http://www.egov.it/egovie/forum2/index.php?action=message&parent_id=4&phpforum_id=4&page=1 As
the Naples event strongly highlighted, one of the main goal sustaining
e-government initiatives is the delivery of services and information to
all citizens, or at least to as many citizens as possible. Also, e-government
can consistently improve the quality of life for citizens and can create
a sharp reduction of costs and time. In other words, public administrations
are interested in reaching out individuals through ICT, offering them some
kind of benefits in exchange for their online involvement.
Burma: The Impact of Internet on Myanmar http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_5/krebs/index.html Within
the last century, the country has been marked by political instability
(Eliot, 1997; Freedom House, 2000). Particularly since its separation from
British colonial rule in 1948, Burma has witnessed significant political
change, violence and unrest. Since the early 1960s, Burma has essentially
been an isolated state, with closed borders and a military government.
However, the fall of the Berlin wall and the end of the Cold War seem to
suggest that isolationism is growing less common worldwide. Importantly,
meteoric advances in communications have also paralleled the fall of isolationism.
Can e-government sites eliminate the wait? http://europe.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/09/26/govt.services.idg/ As
governments move services like voter registration and driver's license
renewal mere mouse clicks away from their constituents, they are finding
many different business models with which to accomplish the tasks. Some
are doing internal development and some are outsourcing.
Leonard R. Sussman http://www.freedomhouse.org/pfs2001/pfs2001.pdf The
trends in freedom of the Internet are mixed. Perhaps surprisingly, many
traditionally authoritative countries now permit relatively unrestricted
use of the Internet by citizens, while several of the most democratic states
attempt to impose restrictions on the Internet in the name of protecting
national security and public decency. And some countries seek international
agreement to block certain cross-border news flows on the Web. This first
assessment of the degree of freedom on the Internet is based on fewer countries
than regularly are judged in the Freedom House survey of press freedom.
Greece in the Information Society http://www.pdgs.org/Archivo/d0000084.htm New
conditions and new opportunities for growth, prosperity and quality of
life. Information and telecommunication technologies change rapidly the
way we work, play, communicate, and transform the bases of economic competition.
They constitute a tool for the modernisation of the state and the competitiveness
of enterprises, while creating new ways of work, new skills, and the need
for continuing learning and adaptation of the education system. At the
same time they allow the provision of better health, welfare, and environmental
services, and contribute to the promotion of our cultural heritage and
the Greek language.
Electronic Democracy and Environmental Governance: A Survey of the States Thomas Beierle and Sarah Cahill http://www.rff.org/CFDOCS/disc_papers/PDF_files/0042.pdf Just
as information technology is rapidly changing how we work, shop, and play,
it is changing how we practice democracy. This paper focuses on one area
where the Internet is broadening public participation in governance: the
administration of environmental laws and regulations. It describes a survey
of how each of the 50 states is using the Internet to provide citizens
with environmental information, gather public input on agency decisions,
and foster networks of interested citizens.
How to use the Internet effectively, securely, and legally in election campaigns Phil Cain, James Crabtree, Dan Jellinek and Tom Steinberg http://www.voxpolitics.com/primer.shtml The
2001 UK General Election will be a proving ground for the political Internet.
At each party headquarters, a new generation of technologies will be rolled
out, building a new type of campaign. The parties have thought hard and
invested heavily. Locally, Parliamentary candidates both new and experienced
will be creating or revamping their personal web sites to try to show they
are with-it, forward-looking and accessible.
e-government: developing state communications in a free media environment http://www.camfordpublishing.com/foresight/brief/vol3no1/high02.htm
The Role of Government in a Digital Age http://www.ccianet.org/digitalgovstudy/main.html As
the report discusses, the theoretical underpinnings behind private versus
public production shift as the economy moves toward a digital one.On
one hand, the public good
nature of production in a digital economy, along with the presence of network
externalities, may suggest a larger public role than in a bricks-and-mortar
economy.On the other hand,
an information-based economy may also improve the quality and reduce the
cost of obtaining information, which by itself makes private markets work
better than before.Furthermore,
government failure may be even more pronounced in the context of rapidly
moving information-laden markets than in traditional bricks-and-mortar
markets.
Digitally
Empowered Development
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/Search/document.asp?i=20010301FAESSAY4265.XML Advances
in information and communications technology did more than almost anything
else to drive the last decade's economic boom and the integration of markets
around the planet. New data networks, automated inventory control, and
just-in-time manufacturing systems have made U.S. companies the most efficient
in the world. The Internet has increased the speed of development -- electronic
commerce, although still in an early phase, has already transformed industry
after industry by enabling greater efficiency.
Study: Best e-gov involves citizens http://fcw.com/civic/articles/2000/1113/web-study-11-17-00.asp The
most successful e-government programs are the ones in which agencies get
input directly from citizens and offer more than one way to interact with
services, according to a study by the Intergovernmental Advisory Board.
Regulating the Internet: How Far Should Government Reach? Charles Kolb and Elliot Schwartz http://www.cisp.org/imp/april_2001/04_01kolb-schwartz.htm "In
general, we should not view the Internet as a new fertile field for regulation
or as a cash cow to be milked through the imposition of new taxes. Nevertheless,
several issues have emerged from our nascent experience with e-commerce,
which present policy makers with difficult and complex problems to solve."
Communication and Democracy : Coincident Revolutions and the Emergent Dictator's Dilemma Christopher R. Kedzie This
research explores fundamental relationships at the nexus of the information
revolution and international affairs. Networked communications and political
democracy are the central foci of theoretical and empirical analyses. A
strong correlation between these two concepts would appear to offer new
policy options for promoting democracy worldwide.
E-Government
is touted
by many as the next great American revolution. Beyond the
hype, however, is a growing movement in the United States and other countries
to experiment with government-by-Internet. More than 220 countries and
territories have websites with links to more than 15,000 government institutions.
In the United States, a growing number of federal agencies, states and
localities have an Internet presence. There are currently more than 20,000
websites offering government information.
The
nuts and bolts of e-governance C.Umashankar
IAS., District Collector, Tiruvarur, TamilNadu The
growth of Information Technology has opened a new chapter in public administration.The
Government Sector has large amount of database, which at present is largely
being updated using the conventional manual processing method.These
repetitive transactions are neither fully felt by the bureaucracy nor the
general public.Such a situation
is applicable to the third world countries, developing and partly to developed
countries.
A
collection of papers on Governance and the Web from the site of Institute
on Governance (Canada).
With
nothing more than a computer and an Internet connection, a single person,
in their living room or in a cybercafe, can tell the whole world
what they think. All they need to do is set up a web site, take part in
a newsgroup or send e-mail messages. This person can even freely denounce
human rights violations or repression in their country, no matter how authoritarian
and closed it is.
The Socio-Economic Impact of IT Bringi Dev Information and communication technologies are generating new possibilities to attack problems of rural poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. Old ways of doing business in terms of delivering important services to citizens are being challenged and sometimes abolished in both industrialized and developing countries.
Collection of Articles on E-Governance relating to India This
sub-section on e-governance in India is maintained by Cyber India Online (CIOL).
Electronic
Governance ö A key issue in the 21st century Renu Budhiraja In
simple terms Electronic Governance can be defined as giving Citizens the
choice of when and where they access government information and services.
Putting the Citizen at the centre of government means taking a delivery
channel view. This would mean using more and more of Electronics &
Information Technology in many of the government functions.
Digital Democracy and the Citizen Bringi Dev With developments in information technology, government activities which involve public contact with individuals, groups, and businesses can be significantly restructured. The this processes is done well, we can both save resources and provide better information and service. Information technology can give the citizen quick, interactive access to a vast array of information and services, through computers at home or work.
E-Governance: India in the 21st Century Bringi Dev In
no area is the need of the developing world as great as it is in that of
"information." Not only is there greater need for external information,
but even the information produced locally is frequently inefficiently managed,
forcing countries to import it at great costs from outside sources. We
believe that in the world of the twenty-first century, no country can afford
not to join the information revolution nor can any country resist its all-pervasive
impact.
Empowerment and Governance through Information and Communication Technologies: women's perspective Vikas Nath The
paper explores the avenues created by ICT enabled networking processes
for women in the areas of empowerment and governance, the hindrances facedin
engendering of these processes andgoes
on to suggest ways to ensure that greater benefits accrue to women in a
distributed manner.
Understanding e-Governance for Development Richard Heeks New
information and communication technologies can make a significant contribution
to the achievement of good governance goals. This 'e-governance' can make
governance more efficient and more effective, and bring other benefits
too. This paper outlines the three main contributions of e-governance:
improving government processes (e-administration); connecting citizens
(e-citizens and e-services); and building external interactions (e-society).
Building e-Governance for Development: A Framework for National and Donor Action Richard Heeks http://idpm.man.ac.uk/idpm/igov12.htm This
paper hopes to point the way forward by describing the contents of a National
e-Governance Initiative (NeGI) for developing countries that would address
the problems of the past and would grasp the opportunities provided for
governance by the new connectivity.
Governments Closing Gap Between Political Rhetoric and eGovernment Reality Online
service delivery has never been higher on the political agenda than it
is today. From the United Kingdom to the United States, Belgium to Brazil
and Malaysia to Mexico, governments are talking about the significant benefits
that can be realised by migrating traditionally paper-based and face-to-face
services to the Internet. Governments also understand these services must
be customer focused, cost effective, easy to use and value-added for citizens,
businesses and the governments themselves.
Governments
at all levels can learn from one another ÷ as well as from the private
sector ÷ as they integrate e-commerce services into their e-government
frameworks, according to a pair of reports released Thursday. The reports,
released by PricewaterhouseCoopersâ Endowment for the Business of
Government, examine case studies at the local, state and federal levels
and provide roadmaps for government leaders designing e-government solutions.
e-Government : a Primer for Task Teams A World Bank Document Much
of government work directly concerns itself with the processing of exchange
of information with businesses and citizens.Governments
have developed sophisticated systems to manage paper based processes of
governments and their agencies. By their nature and the sheer size of government,access
to itâs information has become difficult.Dealing
with government is often confusing and requires physical visits to its
facilities.
The use of Internet in Government Service Delivery Steven Cohen and William Eimicke Governments
have begun to use the World Wide Web to assist in service delivery. This
includes, but goes far beyond, the dissemination of information to the
general public and involves a variety of other governmental functions.
In reviewing some govern-ment websites it is clear that the use of the
web for service delivery is still in its infancy. The types of services
that can be delivered through the web are still in the process of being
imagined and organized by both government and the private sector.
Darrell M. West E-government
refers to the delivery of information and services online through the Internet
or other digital means. Many governmental units have embraced the digital
revolution and are putting a wide range of materials from publications
and databases to actual government services online for citizen use. Since
e-government is still in its infancy, it is a perfect time to measure the
extent of web service delivery and compare differences that exist across
the 50 states and between the state and federal governments.
Electronic Governance: Re-inventing Good Governance Rogers Wâ O Okot-Uma, Commonwealth Secretariat London This
article examines the significance of the emergence of Electronic Governance
(eGovernance) as a mode of practice in the re-invention of Good Governance.
It presents eGovernance as inclusive of Electronic Democracy (eDemocracy),
Electronic Government (eGovernment) and Electronic Business (eBusiness),
examines the nature and scope of developments in this emerging field and
provides a wealth of examples to illustrate essential, embedded concepts
and modes of practice.
The Worldwide Digital Divide: Information Poverty, the Internet and Development Pippa Norris There
are many reasons why new communications technology, particularly the role
of the Internet, may potentially level the playing field allowing nations
with moderate levels of development, like Malaysia, Estonia and Brazil,
to catch up with post-industrial societies. Potentially the effect of the
Internet in broadening and enhancing access to information and communication
may be greatest in poorer nations, because once past the barriers of access
the new technology offers a relatively cheap and efficient service.
The Role of Online Publication in the Promotion of Democracy The
Internet is Africa's political corrupticians' nightmare. In other words,
news- media- information censorship by political dictators is curtailed
at the door of the Internet. Ask Yugoslav's Slobodan Milosovic whose regime
was toppled by the technology of the Internet and satellite comunications.
The irony is that the "unimportant" people that the media target in under-developed
and developing countries like Sierra Leone for instance, are hardly in
a position to access the Internet.
Dictatorships in the Digital Age: Some Considerations on the Internet in China and Cuba William J. Drake William J. Drake Taylor C. Boas The
belief that the Internet will spread democracy throughout the developing
world is so firmly held in Washington, D.C. policy circles that it is becoming
an article of faith. There may be something to the underlying proposition,
but this is an analytical question that should be subjected to close investigation
before firm conclusions are drawn.
E-government -- Reality or Hype? Dan Jellinek "Will
it revolutionise the way citizens interact with government and alter the
fabric of democracy? Or is it doomed to fail through lack of funding and
political commitment, an experiment that will prove costly, not to mention
socially divisive through the exclusion of those without expensive computers?"
Realizing the Promise of Digital Government: Itâs More than Building a Web Site Theresa A. Pardo "Yes,
yes, my daughter can build a Web site, too, but digital government is more
than that. The more of us who understand that digital government isnât
about building a Web site, that itâs not about technologies, that
it is about transforming government service delivery through the use of
the technology, the better off weâll all be."
Creating a Digital Federal Government Rob
Atkinson
Is Digital Government Good Government? A
series of articles appearing in iMP "The Magazine on Information Impacts"
in October 2000 edition.
Why Digital Government is Global and Green Paul Miller "If
the role of government is to improve the quality of life of citizens, how
can e-commerce and the other opportunities created by the Internet help
towards that goal?"
Initiative towards e-Commerce/e-Government Tariq A. Niazi What
is an e-Government? "A Government Without Walls" that means a government
without hurdles and red tapeism which is a general view of the public about
government's of third world countries. State ministries / agencies services
and transactions can be offered online.
Surfing villages: Can Indian villages be logged on to the infotech highway? Are
they for real and do they stand to benefit from artificial intelligence?
Can India's villages ride on the infotech highway to development? To a
certain extent this is already happening but it is a knotty situation.
Can IT evolve to serve rural Indiaâs needs? The dairy cooperatives
of Anand in Gujarat are using IT applications to streamline procedures,
making a significant difference to the lives of milk producers in surrounding
villages.
The
Bulletin covers electronic government, tele-democracy and the information
society in the UK and worldwide. The Bulletin is a free, independent publication,
aimed at internet users across government, local government, the social
sector and their private sector partners.
Digital Growth in Africa - things governments can do for free or nearly free News
Update asked 25 individuals and organisations drawn from development agencies,
the private sector, NGOs and trusts involved in digital development in
Africa to make suggestions about things that African governments (or others)
could do for little or money to encourage digital development. There was
almost a complete consensus on the kinds of things they felt ought to be
done.
Promoting Participation, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship through IT A
slide show presentation by Parmesh Shah, Participation Coordinator, Social
Development Department, The World Bank.
Critical Choices: The United Nations, Networks, and the Future of Global Governance Global Public Policy Network Profound
and continuing change in our global environment÷social, political,
and economic÷today demands commensurate changes in our institutions
of global governance, not least in the institution that lies at the core
of the international system, the United Nations. Creative new arrangements
are needed urgently to allow governments, other organizations both public
and private, and individuals around the world to work together to address
pressing global problems÷from weapons control to the lack of adequate
global labor standards to climate change÷as they arise. This report
examines one such set of arrangements: global public policy networks.
India : Bibliography on E-Governance IT
revolution is sweeping the globe. Governments willy nilly are being drawn
into it. Transition to electronic delivery of services in government not
only involves changes to the systems, procedures and processes of relevant
services but also affects the way in which the public and business community
deals with the government. This section attempts to put together
national as well as international experiences in e-governance for the benefit
of all concerned.
Analysis: Can e-government sites eliminate the wait? Heather Harreld http://europe.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/09/26/govt.services.idg/ Until
recently, this meant nothing more than static webpages that reproduced
the bureaucracies resting at the heart of federal, state and local agencies.
For decades, those same bureaucracies in the paper-based world have left
citizens waiting in long lines or on hold for hours.
Jacob Weisberg The
chief argument for e-voting is that it will cause more people to vote.
As everyone knows, turnout has been declining. In presidential elections,
it has fallen from 63 percent of the voting-age population in 1960 to less
than 50 percent in 1996. There are many reasons for this, but one of them
is surely the inconvenience of casting ballots in person.
Developments in electronic governance 'Developments
in electronic governance' is the British Council's briefing document
on the harnessing of new technologies and new media to the governance agenda,
and current issues in 'electronic governance'.
Building Citizen-based Electronic Democracy Efforts Steven Clift Over
the last century we have witnessed a revolution in communications that
has moved much of the public discourse and agenda-setting from the individual
and community level to the mass level. As communication technologies and
their use by people continues to evolve there are indications that this
trend is now reversing with some notable globalization exceptions.
Bridging
the digital divide : a special report by BBC UK
Governance in the Digital Economy The Importance of Human Development Don Tapscott and David Agnew The
Internet and related technologies are revolutionizing the way people live,
communicate, and work. What impacts will these far-reaching changes have
on the structures and functioning of our governments?
Electronic governance and commercial development in Africa: the grass roots perspective Margaret Grieco This
presentation explores the emergence of the concept of 'governance' and
speculates on the opportunities provided by new electronic technologies
for the development of more participatory forms of governance than those
experienced in the past. The presentation identifies the possibilities
for direct democracy and the greater use of client/user feedback in the
shaping of governance structures.
Steven Clift The
Internet will save democracy. Or so Internet technohype led many to believe.
With each new communication medium comes a wide-eyed view about its potential.
Iâd like to suggest that just as the television saved democracy,
so will the Internet. Now that Iâve set a low expectation, anything
we do incrementally to improve democracy through the Internet is something
we can consider an accomplishment.
Information Technology and Public Sector Corruption Richard Heeks Corruption
is a major problem for many parts of the public sector. One dominant vision
of corruption restraint ö the ÎPanoptic visionâ ö
sees information technology (IT) as a key enabler of management control.
This paper presents five short case studies of IT and public sector corruption
to test the realities of this Panoptic vision. From these it is concluded
that, while IT sometimes does detect and remove corruption, it can also
have no effect or even provide new corruption opportunities for some public
servants.
Top Ten E-Democracy "To Do List" for Governments Around the World Steven Clift Governments around the world have an exciting opportunity. We can revitalize our spirit of our many democracies and build an e-government that fundamentally connects with the people and rebuilds the legitimacy of governance. The Internet, if used with democratic intent and spirit can and will bring people closer to their governments. We can break down the "us" versus "them" mentality and embrace the miracle of government as the one institution the people jointly own in their local communities, regions, and nations.
The Virtual Organisation: Information and Communication Technology and the Role of Governance Ryan R. Peterson & Dirk de Wit Organisations
are spanning their traditional boundaries by venturing into virtual and
networked organisational forms. Emerging information and communication
technologies create the possibility for extending the boundaries of business.
It is not the technology that leads to sustained advantage, but the management
and exploitation of technology.
Michael Kahn and Russell Swanborough This
paper considers problems with existing government processes in South Africa,
and presents a generally-applicable framework for analysis of existing
government information systems prior to transformation. It argues that
a central theme of government transformation is development of a culture
of information management to ensure that information systems fit the task
for which they are procured.
Information Age Reform of the Public Sector: The Potential and Problems of IT for India Richard Heeks As in many countries, public sector reform in India has consisted of five main components: increased efficiency, decentralisation, increased accountability, improved resource management, and marketisation. 'Information age reform' means delivering these ongoing reform components with a more overt role for information and with greater use of information technology. A review of global experience suggests that information age reform has great potential to improve public administration and other components of the public sector.
Heralding
ICT enabled Knowledge Societies
:
way
forward for Developing Countries Bela Bhatia & Jean Dreze Lasani
is a small village which is part of Rawatmaal panchayat (village council)
in Rajasthan's Ajmer district. According to the panchayat records, Rs.
56,000 was recently spent to construct water channels linking the village
talab (pond) with the fields. The water channels, however, exist only on
paper. This is one of many shocking revelations that emerged at a recent
public hearing (jan sunwai) led by the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS),
a people's organisation working in the region since 1988.
The Real Revolution? Issue-Advocacy Campaigning on the Internet Colin
Delany
Planning and Creating a Government Web Site: Learning from the Experience of US States Linda DeConti Many
governments have created, or are seeking to create, a Web presence. A set
of information delivery principles and Web site design criteria are therefore
presented. These criteria are then used to evaluate the Web sites of forty-eight
US State governments, providing insights into both best and worst practice
for government. The paper concludes with some details of the strategic
approaches to Web site development that governments may need to adopt.
Information and Communication Technologies for Improved Governance in Africa Bhavya Lal This
paper reviews the issues facing African countries in adopting information
and communication technologies (ICTs) to enhance governance in four areas,
reducing poverty, providing basic human needs, improving public administration,
and enhancing democratization. It summarizes the use of ICTs in these areas
ö both successes and failures ö around the world and in Africa.
Steven Clift To
write about the use of information and communication technology and democracy
requires not a hyper-speed view that everything will change in the next
two years. Rather it is the principles we establish and the actions we
take now that will set the course for the next two hundred years of democracy
in the information age. We must ask ourselves - Do we want to build the
Internet into the very nature our many democracies?
Electronic Democracy and Environmental Governance: a survey of the states (PDF format) A
new paper by researchers at Resources for the Future (RFF) says that state
- level governments are in an early and experimental phase in applying
the principles of electronic democracy to environmental decisionmaking.
The paper describes an RFF survey examining how all 50 states in US use
the Internet to engage citizens in environmental issues.
Knowledge
Networking for Sustainable Development
"Information
for Decision-Making", Chapter 40 of Agenda 21
Information
for decision-making is the subject of Chapter
40 of Agenda 21, which emphasizes that, in sustainable development,
everyone is a user and provider of information considered in the broad
sense. That includes data, information, experience and knowledge. The need
for information arises at all levels, from that of senior decision-makers
at the national and international levels to the grass-roots and individual
levels.
Future
Societal Challenges of the information Society: How can ICT assist in building
an inclusive, sustainable and democratic society capitalising on cultural
diversity?
Benefits
of IT-Based Decision-Making in Developing Countries
(PDF
format)
JOURNALS
The Journal of E-government (new!) http://www.e-gov.com/egovjournal/news/index.pl Journal
for delivering Government Services in the Digital World
United
States publication focused IT solutions at the state and local levels
http://www.headstar.com/egb/
http://www.qlinks.net/quicklinks/egov.htm The section provides updates on E-Governance from the Quick Links Journal.
DigitalGovernance.org Initiative is conceived and managed by:
www.vikasnath.org
Inlaks Fellow (2000-1),
London School of Economics, UK
Founder,
KnowNet.org Initiative
Let us know of your
comments and feed-forward by signing our Guestbook. |