The document discusses how social capital and the public sphere can contribute to understanding eParticipation. It proposes three key points: 1) The public sphere involves general political debate on issues of public interest, not just government-driven topics. It occurs in online spaces like discussion boards and social media. 2) Social capital, which relies on trust and reciprocity, can explain why citizens participate in public debates. High social capital strengthens participation and engagement. 3) eParticipation is more than just participation in government and decision-making. It includes citizen-driven online public spheres where debate can indirectly influence decisions through social networks.