Conceptual framework for the development of e-democracy

Abstract

In proposed paper, the current state and main trends in the development of the conceptual foundations of e-democracy have been described. A number of definitions such as "model of electronic democracy" (e-democracy), "electronic citizen" (e-citizen), "electronic bureaucrat" (e-bureaucrat) have been proposed. These definitions based on the analysis of the conceptual and categorical apparatus of the sphere of e-democracy. The classical classifications of e-democracy models by a number of features have been considered, such as: geographical (Anglo-Saxon, European-Continental, Asian models), functional, and a feature that determines the presence of connections between subjects (government, business, citizen). The key characteristics based on the analysis e-democracy models for geographical features are summarized. The features and disadvantages inherent in these models are presented. The features characteristic of the national model of e-democracy have been formulated. The list of attributes for classifying e-democracy models has been expanded, an attribute has been added – the degree of democratic processes automation. The indicated attribute was used to formulate its own classification, it contains three levels – initial (partial automation), developed (activation of processes associated with the growth of citizens' e-participation in public administration processes) and smart level (forecasting processes, analytics, etc.). The basic processes and the list of e-democracy tools inherent to the models of each level have been defined. At the same time, each next level includes all the previous level processes and tools of e-democracy, plus additional processes and tools that distinguish it from the previous level. In order to determine the degree of each levels development for the indicated e-democracy models classification, a criterion of the population coverage level by e-participation (by e-democracy tools) has been proposed. The degree of intellectual digitalization underlying the proposed classification corresponds to the approach, which reflects the classical foundations of democracy and in no way contradicts them.