Can the networked communications environment change how we ‘do’ politics, empowering people & strengthening democracy?
The networked communications environment offers new opportunities to bring governments and citizens closer together. It can help to remove bureaucratic boundaries and make state services more accessible and efficient. E-government facilities combined with new information rights make governments more transparent and accountable to their citizens. New communications make it easier for citizens to engage in politics and for interest groups to participate in developing public policy. The networked communications environment could revolutionise the relationship between citizens and government, re-establish trust and dialogue and create new possibilities for truly participatory democracy.
