Local Democracy Online

Driven by Crisis, Legitimacy, Resources, or Communication Gaps

Bibliographic Data

ID12972131
AuthorsAre Vegard Haug (0000-0003-3051-1664, University of Oslo, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume4
Issue2
Pages79-99
Publication date2008-04-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Information Technology & Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1933-169X • E-ISSN: 1933-1681
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19331680802076140
OpenAlexW1842060666
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited19

In this article, key findings from a survey of all municipal Web sites in Norway are presented. The focus is on e-democracy; that is, to what extent local democracy is enhanced by facilitating online political communication. What forms of political or democratic practice are made possible and/or catalyzed by the forms of political communication on these Web sites? The findings indicate that when online political communication is obtainable, the center of attention is information provision rather than online interactivity and political participation. Consequently, the Norwegian municipalities primarily use their Web sites to stimulate one of Dahl's classic democratic ideals, namely enlightened understanding. The second ideal, means for effective participation, is not particularly developed. Several hypotheses on what might explain the variation are also tested. Four findings emerged as particularly interesting: First, communication needs and overall resources explained much of the variation. In addition, municipalities that outsource Web site operations/development to private companies lag behind with regard to online political communication. Finally, although unexpected, there was no center-periphery gap as to the development of online political communication channels

Democracy · Interactivity · Norwegian · Political communication · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Sociology · World Wide Web · Computer Science · E-Government and Public Services · Law · Social Capital and Networks · Social Media and Politics