Role of e-participation tools at the stages of state policy formation

Abstract

Today, governments in many countries use information and communication technologies for public administration, involving to the formation of policies, through electronic channels, a wide range of citizens, especially at the local level. The use of electronic tools and information and communication technologies is an important condition for the interaction of public authorities with civil society. Electronic participation ensures a strong partnership between state authorities and civil society, leads to the strengthening of rep- resentative democracy and its tools of traditional engagement of citizens in the decision-making process. In the information society, an improved type of state communication with citizens through electronic channels is formed, namely through the filing of electronic petitions, electronic consultations, and the usage of state electronic services. Under conditions when citizens are delegated some of the powers, their competence, responsibility for the decisions and political culture are promptly increased.Citizens’ interaction with state authorities should be based on partnership, equal and mutual respect for all participants of the discussion, active citizens’ position with openness to compromises. It is important that citizens are united through new platforms of electronic communication, representing common ideas, scaling their influence. Information and communication technologies allow citizens receive greater partic- ipation in policy development and government decision-making. As a result, in the e-governance system, there will be new types of interaction between the state and civil society that involves openness, transparency and full confidence.In Ukraine, the introduction of information and communication technologies in public administration will strengthen democratic processes both at the central and at the local level. However, in Ukrainian realities, it should be remembered that, along with the development of the legal framework for e-governance and job description for civil servants, it is necessary to actively improve the technical infrastructure, attract international experience and investments to establish effective electronic communication between state authorities and the civil society. Taking into account international experience, Ukraine needs to fully reform the mechanisms and system of electronic channels for involving citizens in public administration, update and improve the regulatory framework of e-governance, introduce state-run training programs for civil serv- ants on the use of electronic tools for citizens’ engaging, attracting investment in development technical infrastructure and information and communication technologies.This article discusses usage of electronic participation tools at the main stages of public policies formation procedure, determines their influence and conditions of effective functioning. The main purpose of the study is to determine the possibilities, dynamics of development and peculiarities of the electronic tools usage for participation in public administration.