Internet as a Platform for Intersectoral Interaction between Government Officials and Non-Governmental Organizations (on the Example of Yaroslavl Region)

Abstract

The development of the Internet stimulates the intensity of interaction between government officials and NGOs. The global network facilitates this interaction, presents new forms and opportunities for it. However, for the very nature of this interaction, the basic characteristics of government officials and NGOs perception of each other and the existing relations among them are important. At the same time, Internet tools can only act as secondary elements in the framework of this interaction. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the nature of the relationship between officials of state authorities of Yaroslavl region and municipalities of the region with NGOs and civil activists, including through Internet tools.Empirical data for the study were collected in January- February 2020 by two surveys: a survey of employees of the Yaroslavl region authorities at the regional and municipal level (a sample of 106 people) and managers and employees of region NGOs (a sample of 72 people). The data allowed to assess the specifics of the perception of each of the parties of the existing relationship (trust, awareness of the activities, the nature of the relationship), as well as the possibilities and results of using Internet tools to implement this interaction.