eParticipation in the Netherlands Presentation for the Third International Forum on eDemocracy d.d. 22 may 2008

eParticipation the the Netherlands Looking back Current approach and activities Looking forward Relevance of eVoice programme Final Remarks

Looking back

Current approach and activities

Looking forward

Relevance of eVoice programme

Final Remarks

Looking back (1/2) eParticipation not a political priority Van Boxtel / Van der Ploeg (1998-2002) exploration of social, economic, cultural and political impact of internet research, experiments eSkills (‘Digitale Trapveldjes’) eParticipation the the Netherlands

Looking back (1/2)

eParticipation not a political priority

Van Boxtel / Van der Ploeg (1998-2002)

exploration of social, economic, cultural and political impact of internet

research, experiments

eSkills (‘Digitale Trapveldjes’)

Looking back (2/2) Balkenende (2002-2006) 65% of government services online in 2007 efficiency, effectiveness Generic digital infrastructure Balkenende (2006-…) Open dialogues Citizen participation Citizens’ feedback on service delivery eParticipation the the Netherlands

Looking back (2/2)

Balkenende (2002-2006)

65% of government services online in 2007

efficiency, effectiveness

Generic digital infrastructure

Balkenende (2006-…)

Open dialogues

Citizen participation

Citizens’ feedback on service delivery

Current approach and activities (1/3) eParticipation as a strategic new challenge in eGovernment policy (2006) Definition: involving citizens in finding solutions for social issues in all phases of the policy process Three fields of involvement Higher levels of participation Internet as an additional channel for participation eParticipation the the Netherlands

Current approach and activities (1/3)

eParticipation as a strategic new challenge in eGovernment policy (2006)

Definition: involving citizens in finding solutions for social issues in all phases of the policy process

Three fields of involvement

Higher levels of participation

Internet as an additional channel for participation

Current approach and activities (2/3) 2006 Setting up an informal network Quickscans brainstorm sessions: definition and longlist of ideas 2007 Six experiments eParticpation summit Creative sessions: networking and finding new ideas Community website eparticipatie.nl, outside government eParticipation the the Netherlands

Current approach and activities (2/3)

2006

Setting up an informal network

Quickscans

brainstorm sessions: definition and longlist of ideas

2007

Six experiments

eParticpation summit

Creative sessions: networking and finding new ideas

Community website eparticipatie.nl, outside government

Current approach and activities (3/3) 2008 Further development and takeup of experiments New experiments (digital pioniers) Regional meetings for civil servants on the local level: how to make eParticipation a succes eParticipation-Award eParticipation the the Netherlands

Current approach and activities (3/3)

2008

Further development and takeup of experiments

New experiments (digital pioniers)

Regional meetings for civil servants on the local level: how to make eParticipation a succes

eParticipation-Award

Looking forward (1/2) Research: citizens want to be involved via the internet Political support seems to be rising eParticipation the the Netherlands

Looking forward (1/2)

Research: citizens want to be involved via the internet

Political support seems to be rising

Looking forward (2/2) But… strong resistance by government politicians feel threathened little trust in the quality of citizens involvement lack of positive experiences Citizens’critique: limited trust in participatory processes organised by government badly informed nothing is done with their input lack of decent feedback mechanisms eParticipation the the Netherlands

Looking forward (2/2)

But… strong resistance by government

politicians feel threathened

little trust in the quality of citizens involvement

lack of positive experiences

Citizens’critique:

limited trust in participatory processes organised by government

badly informed

nothing is done with their input

lack of decent feedback mechanisms

Relevance of eVoice Difficult situation in NL: high potential + strong restance Approach NL: Stimulate small and concrete steps Stimulate cooperation (governments + citizens) Share experiences Inspiration: meet! eVoice helps in all of this eParticipation the the Netherlands

Relevance of eVoice

Difficult situation in NL: high potential + strong restance

Approach NL:

Stimulate small and concrete steps

Stimulate cooperation (governments + citizens)

Share experiences

Inspiration: meet!

eVoice helps in all of this

Final Remarks Keep eParticipation on political agenda Do it web2.0: rip it, find it, mix it, and share it! eParticipation the the Netherlands

Final Remarks

Keep eParticipation on political agenda

Do it web2.0: rip it, find it, mix it, and share it!

Thank You! Arnout Ponsioen [email_address] eParticipation the the Netherlands

Thank You!

Arnout Ponsioen

[email_address]