The Interaction of Government and Society in an Online Dialogue (on the Example of the Kostroma Region)

Abstract

Relevance. The article analyzes the transformation of the interaction of society and government from offline dialogue to online communication - on the example of the Kostroma region.The purpose of the study is to identify the opportunities and forms of online interaction between the government and society for discussing socially significant topics.Objectives: to analyze the content of public discussions taking place at the regional level and related to the construction, restoration and functioning of objects of cultural significance; to identify forms of integration into the digital public space of techniques that characterize traditional dialogue; to identify a range of problems that hinder an effective and equal online dialogue between government and society.Methodology. The research is based on a dialectical understanding of socio-cultural processes and phenomena, on general scientific and logical methods of cognition. Ideographic, historical-comparative, and institutional methods are used.The results of the research are theoretical and applied in nature and are aimed at finding effective techniques that eliminate barriers to alienation of society and government in the digital public sphere, ensuring interested and productive participation of the parties in the discussion of a socially significant agenda.Conclusions. The nonlinear and spontaneous nature of the transformation of offline dialogue into online communication is noted, which is explained by the insufficient adaptive resource of a part of society, as well as the survivability of old management technologies and models. The possibilities and advantages of online communication for discussing socially significant topics are revealed. It is proved that at present a significant part of legislative or technical obstacles to establishing a productive online dialogue between the authorities and the population have been eliminated - mental and psychological obstacles remain. It is concluded that the escapist tactics of the authorities, ignoring the request of the population to participate in the discussion of regional and urban problems, as well as the destructive revelatory pathos into which the opposition often falls, is an equally fragile basis for the search for public consensus. It is noted that the digital public sphere is still evaluated by some government representatives primarily as a resource for formalizing and standardizing dialogue with citizens.