A new normal? Streaming municipal assemblies on social media before, during and after the pandemic

Abstract

This study aims at understanding the effects that the Covid-19 lockdowns had on the streaming of municipal assemblies via social media, whether those effects persisted after the pandemic, and what were the main determinants, motivations, and consequences of adopting that practice. To accomplish these goals, an exploratory mixed methods approach is used. Quantitative methods are used to assess the evolution of the number of municipalities streaming their assemblies and to identify determinants of adoption. Qualitative methods are used to capture the perception of relevant actors. Portugal is used as the case of study (308 municipalities). It was found that streaming of municipal assemblies was clearly triggered by the pandemic and the subsequent local elections, while being moderated by some of the factors that are known to be important for digital government development at the local level: demography, socioeconomic dynamism, citizen participation, and political environment. It was also found that streaming assemblies contributes to improve transparency, accountability, trust, proximity, and the public image of the bodies, albeit having no effect on the forms available for citizen participation. It also contributes to assembly members' interventions becoming more frequent, longer, targeted, and moderated. To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study to address the streaming of municipal assemblies via social media.