Citizen Participation In Governance Research Articles

Vietnamese Citizen Participation in Local Governance

Local governance is characterized by the interaction between government agencies and people in the local social management process, in which people are encouraged to actively play a part in government management activities as regulated by laws. This study addresses the people's rights to directly and indirectly participate in local governance activities in Vietnam. A survey of 360 people from 4 localities representing three regions of Vietnam, including Thai Binh province, Hung Yen province (Northern region), Quang Binh province (Central region), Ca Mau province (Northern region) was conducted to evaluate citizen participation in governance activities of commune-level authorities. The results show that the citizen participation in local governance activities do exist, but are limited to the direct participation. To some extent, the people also have rights to self-determine local issues on infrastructure construction and public welfare projects with their own contributions; however, their self-development of programs and projects and proposals to local authorities for implementation has not been clearly demonstrated. These findings suggest expanding the people's rights to participate in local governance activities as innovations for the improvement local governance effectiveness.

Local Democratic School: Community Social Training for Improving the Quality of Democracy

The lack of awareness and knowledge among the Banjar community regarding government participation and transparency led to the implementation of the community service activity at the Local Democratic School. The purpose of this community service is to provide education to the community about democracy and governance. The community service method, using the participatory action research approach, began with an initial survey, focus group discussions, and training targeting KPU partners, attended by 25 participants serving as the Election Committee in each village or neighborhood across Banjar City. Through a series of concrete and collaborative steps, it is expected to establish a stronger foundation for inclusive and sustainable democracy at the local level, enhancing community involvement and contribution to positive changes in social structures and public policies. The duration of this PkM activity is seven months, from March to September 2023. The outcomes of the activity received positive feedback from the community, with a 91% response rate from participants indicating an understanding of various topics covered, including local content, governance, civil society, gender and democracy, welfare state, Pancasila democracy, sociopreneurship, law and human rights, and citizen participation in government. The implication is that this program can enhance community understanding and involvement in creating positive changes in social structures and public policies at the local level.

From Civil Society Organisations to Pirate Parties to Digital Democracy

Reshaping our political and social systems for a sustainable future requires a multifaceted approach that addresses several key areas, such as: political reform, social change, economic development, environmental preservation, or technological innovation. In order to achieve a sustainable future, we need to implement its ideals in every societal sector. When dealing with the political system, we cannot ignore the antidemocratic tendencies arising or taking over our everyday life even in the Western World. Under these circumstances, political reform is a must and we have to admit that one of its most important tasks is strengthening democracy. The actual political discourse is full of ideas like proportional representation, direct democracy, sustainability-focused governance, transparency, accountability, and equity. Among the many actors that try to solve these problems there is a group that proposes some new solutions, based on the means of Information Society, Pirate Parties. Emerging from the digital world, they are a fresh wave of political movements with deep roots in online activism. These parties, some born from anti-establishment protests, have rapidly spread across the globe in just two decades. Their journey is one of transformation, from grassroots movements to established political players. Pirate Parties have a clear digital agenda, focusing on issues like copyright reform, open access to information, and online privacy. They champion net neutrality and the free flow of knowledge. However, most of them have recognized the importance of broader democratic values for political success. Beyond their digital focus, Pirate Parties also advocate for traditional democratic ideals, including civil rights, transparency, and combating corruption. They promote free speech, direct democracy, and exploring alternative forms of citizen participation in government, often leveraging technology (e-democracy). The future impact of Pirate Parties remains uncertain, but their influence is undeniable. They’ve challenged traditional political norms and brought issues of the digital age to the forefront. Pirate Parties have reshaped the European political landscape and inspired similar movements around the world. My paper aims to briefly present these political formations, with special regard to their origins in and their relations with civil society. After outlining the broad framework, I present some of the most notorious of these formations.

Empowering Digital Citizenship in Indonesia: Navigating Urgent Digital Literacy Challenges for Effective Digital Governance

Currently, the level of digital literacy in Indonesia still needs to be improved. In the ever-growing digital era, digital literacy is a critical skill and knowledge for society. This research aims to explore the literacy policies implemented and the challenges faced by the government in supporting increased literacy in digital governance in Indonesia. This study uses a qualitative approach using Online Research Methods (ORMs) as a data collection method. The analysis tool that is maximized is Nvivo 12 Plus. The findings of this research show that digital literacy plays an essential role in ensuring the active participation of citizens in governance, efficiency of public services, growth of the digital economy, and security in the digital environment. Strong digital literacy is essential for Indonesian society because it allows better access to online services and bridges the public into an era of ever-growing digital democratization. This condition could make Indonesia ready and adaptive to the progress of the digital era. However, the implementation of digital literacy policies is also faced with several inhibiting factors, such as disparities in access and infrastructure, economic and social challenges, lack of education and training, lack of research and data, lack of involvement and coordination between parties, rapid technological changes, including the framework regulations that are not yet fully accommodating. Therefore, Indonesia needs adaptive policies to overcome these obstacles so that digital literacy can increase evenly.

The Decentralised Governance in Kenya: Implications on Citizen Participation in the Local Governance

Abstract This study sought to examine the extent to which decentralisation efforts have affected citizen participation in local governance in Kenya. Survey research designs was employed. 371 questionnaires were administered and 16 interview conducted with key stakeholders. The findings revealed that decentralisation influences citizen participation in devolved Governance. 77.3% of the respondents agreed decentralization had promoted political entrepreneurship while 75% contended that decentralization had influenced citizen participation in development of policies and legislation. Moreover, 57.2% of the respondents felt that citizen participation in decentralized policy-making was high while 69% of the respondents were satisfied that decentralization had made it possible for citizens to participate in county budgeting. Only 49% approved the effectiveness of decentralization in promoting citizen participation in participatory budgeting and planning process. The national and county governments should put in place measures to safeguard the independence of the counties in realizing the objective of citizen participation in governance.

ENSURING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF WOMEN IN MODERN STATE ADMINISTRATION AS AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE OF INCLUSIVE SOCIETY

Abstract: This article examines the question of how to increase citizen participation in government and political culture in modern modern society. In particular, the issue of increasing the inclusiveness of political participation, especially ensuring the social and political activity of women, is described. It is based on the fact that improving the political culture of women, who make up half of the population, and ensuring their rights are an important element of the gender equality strategy in our country. The article focuses on the need to form a gender culture and increase the political literacy of women.

Citizen Participation in Government Decision-Making

Citizen participation in government decision-making is a cornerstone of democratic societies, enabling individuals to influence public policies and outcomes that affect their lives. This article explores the importance, methods, challenges, and impacts of citizen participation in governance, highlighting its role in enhancing democracy and fostering inclusive development. Citizen participation in government decision-making is more than a democratic ideal; it is a fundamental necessity for the health and vitality of democratic societies. Throughout this exploration, it has become evident that the involvement of citizens in governance enhances the legitimacy, accountability, and effectiveness of public policies. By integrating diverse perspectives and local knowledge into the decision-making process, governments can create more responsive and inclusive policies that better address the needs of all citizens. One of the most significant advantages of citizen participation is the enhancement of democratic governance. Involving citizens directly in the decision-making process ensures that governance is not just a top-down approach but a collaborative effort that values the input and experiences of the populace. This inclusivity strengthens the democratic fabric of societies, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among citizens. When people feel that their voices are heard and considered, trust in governmental institutions grows, enhancing the overall legitimacy of the political system. Improving policy outcomes is another critical benefit of citizen participation. Policies developed with direct input from those affected are more likely to be effective and sustainable. Citizens provide valuable insights that can uncover potential issues and highlight practical solutions that may not be evident to policymakers. This collaboration leads to well-rounded and comprehensive policies that can address complex societal challenges more effectively.

Tools for Involving Citizens in Municipal Governance: Russia Case Study

The article considers the experience of citizens' involvement in municipal governance on the example of those regions of the Russian Federation, where the practices of budget initiation are implemented. Index of public participation for such regions is defined; qualitative and organizational aspects of citizen participation in governance at the municipal level are defined; the main tools of communication between citizens and authorities are analyzed. Despite the widespread availability of both online and offline tools for citizen participation in municipal government, civic engagement remains low, which is explained by the insufficient level of communication between municipal authorities and citizens.

Towards Interactive Governance: Embedding Citizen Participation in Local Government

In this article, we explore the embedding of citizen participation in local government. Our study combines and synthesizes the focal aspects of two theoretical streams—citizen participation and interactive governance—in a novel way to identify, illustrate, and analyze the layers of governance required for citizen participation. The analysis shows how the institutional pervasiveness and holistic nature of citizen participation affects the strategic, executive, and citizen interface layers of governance and their interconnections. The research contributes to the literature on embedding citizen participation in government by emphasizing the need to address citizen participation as a profound question of governance and management.

Lokalna demokratija i oblici direktnog učešća građana u vlasti - primer Srbija

The subject of this paper is the institutions of direct democracy at the local level in Serbia, with the aim of analyzing valid solutions (de lege lata) and improving the legal framework (de lege ferenda). The author starts from the thesis that local democracy is an ambiguous and imprecise term. In a broader sense, it represents the right of citizens to participate in government at the local level. In a narrower sense, this term is used as a synonym for local self-government (decentralization) and direct participation of citizens in government. On the other hand, tradition, socio-economic assumptions, legal (normative) framework and political environment are factors that influence local democracy. Apart from the election of local government representatives (representative local democracy), the basic institutional channels of local democracy are forms of direct citizen participation of citizens in decision-making, such as referendum and people's initiative. The application of institutions of direct democracy can be one of the indicators of the level of development of local self-government and local democracy. In the Republic of Serbia, institutional mechanisms for direct citizen participation in local self-government have been created, such as referendums, citizens' initiatives, and assembly of citizens (zbor). In addition, citizens have the right to petition and publicly criticize the authorities, the right to be heard on the authorities' intentions and the right to be informed about and monitor the work of the authorities. The local referendum is enshrined in the Constitution and other institutions are regulated by legal provisions. The quality of these regulations improved after the adoption of the new Law on Referendums and People's Initiative (2021). However, in local self-government units, the scope of these institutions of direct democracy is very limited low. The practice of direct local democracy is very poor, although there is a long tradition of struggle for local self-government in the 19th century. Such a situation is a consequence of the party state that multiplies the centralized way of decision-making, which is manifested in limited participation of citizens in political processes, increasing distrust in political institutions and ineffective control of the authorities in local self-government units. The crisis of democracy also manifests itself in the fact that citizens are less and less interested in public policy. Based on empirical data, comparative experiences and legal standards, the author believes that the solution lies in reviving the application of direct democracy at the local level.

The mixed effects of e‐participation on the dynamic of trust in government: Evidence from Cameroon

AbstractRegular participation of citizens in governance and policy processes has been considered critical to the functioning of the democratic model of governance. While recent studies have documented the emergence and evolution of participatory governance in Western countries, little is known about the influence of citizens’ participation on e‐governance in African countries. Leveraging an original survey conducted in Cameroon on citizens’ participation in and satisfaction with a Facebook‐based e‐participation initiative, this study explores how participation in the governance process through the Internet has affected African citizens’ trust in their local and national governments. The results first suggest a weak positive association between citizens’ e‐participation and their trust in governments. However, further decomposition of the positive association between satisfaction, performance, and trust shows that their relationships are critically enhanced by citizens’ participation in e‐governance, suggesting that the trust‐enchancing impact of e‐participation is likely to be dominated by indirect effects. The results also indicate that the moderating mechanism is likely to differ between citizens’ trust in the local and national governments, which sheds light on the understanding of the effects of e‐participation for both academics and practitioners.[Correction added on 14 February 2023, after first online publication: The section “Summary at a glance” should not have been included. It has been removed.]Points for practitioners Novel participatory governance initiatives such as e‐Participation could enhance trust in the government, but such an effect is likely to be precipitated indirectly. e‐Participation positively affects people’s trust in their government primarily by reinforcing the trust‐enhancing effect of satisfaction with the participatory program and perceived performance of the government. The effect of e‐Participation on trust in government is also positively moderated by citizens' satisfaction with the participatory program and perceived performance of the government.

PROMOTING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION FOR EFFECTIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE

Purpose: To achieve the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strong political leadership, willingness to change and effective outcome-based governance will be required. Governments must align national policies with the SDGs' scope and complexity. Effective governance is critical to achieving the 17 goals. Good governance will help by creating an environment conducive to collective action, holding actors accountable, and dealing with emerging complex trade-offs between goals. The Kenya Vision 2030's political pillar is "a democratic political system that is issue-based, people-centred, result-oriented, and accountable to the public." This highlights the importance of citizen participation in governance. This study delved into what can be done to promote citizen participation to enhance effective and accountable governance in Kenya.
 Design/methodology/approach applied: Herein, a literature review approach, drawing from published peer-reviewed journal articles and grey literature (working papers, reports from credible databases of research institutions, and official government documents) was employed to elucidate discussions and conclusions.
 Main findings: Tightening the democracy-education nexus, which aims at awareness creation and capacity building, is critical to promoting citizen participation and improving effective and accountable governance. Education promotes political interests and fosters civic skills thereby increasing the likelihood of political participation. An effective civic education teaches citizens about their rights and responsibilities as citizens, as well as the functioning of the government. Civic education in a democracy is self-government education. Democratic self-government entails citizens actively participating in their governance rather than passively accepting the dictums or demands of others. Education, on the other hand, should be linked to inclusivity and diversity. 
 Practical implications: There is a need to develop an informed and empowered citizenry capable of successfully engaging in governance affairs to influence governance outcomes in the best interests of the community and posterity. Capacity building, similarly, should be an ongoing process incorporated into the community participatory framework or institutions at various administrative levels. Furthermore, training must be sensitive to, and target or capture, the community's various social categories' concerns and needs.
 Originality/value: While acknowledging the importance of addressing the status quo and need for citizen participation in governance, this study also delves into mechanisms that can be used to promote citizen participation in an intergenerational and intersectional manner while keeping in mind Kenya's national development blueprint, Vision 2030, as well as the United Nations' Agenda 2030 to "Leave No One, No Place Behind."

Country-led monitoring and evaluation systems through the lens of participatory governance and co-production: Implications for a Made in Africa Evaluation approach

Background: The history of evaluations on the African continent can be linked to the introduction of upward systems of accountability resulting from the rapid introduction of international aid programmes for the (re)building of African states during the post-independence era. Results-based management and monitoring and evaluation (ME) became commonplace, the features of which continue to imbue national ME systems across the continent. These systems, if not intentionally so designed and implemented, are not particularly focused on learning for course-correction and performance improvement from the perspective of citizens. Conducting evaluations, in particular, is often based on the need for accountability to funders or decision-makers, as opposed to downward accountability to the public and intended beneficiaries of the interventions.Objectives: This article explores how localised approaches to governance (merged with co-production) could ensure that evaluation systems are liberatory if they are endogenous and indigenous in their design and respond to the needs of citizens (rather than serving an upward accountability agenda).Method: Through the analytical framework of participatory governance and co-production, this article examines how participatory approaches to establishing national evaluation (and monitoring) systems may help the African continent liberate itself from the instrumental adoption of ME systems, defined by compliance and accountability, and instead design systems based on a citizen-owned, people-centred notion of downward accountability.Results: Participatory governance and co-production are well aligned to the principles of MAE (Made in Africa Evaluation) and may provide the means to arriving at more inclusive forms of ME systems development and, concomitantly, more inclusive ways of producing and using evidence for policy, governance and development on a national scale.Conclusion: Although desirable due its potential to transform systems of governance to become more citizen-centred, co-production must not be romanticised nor over-simplified. Increasing levels of citizen participation in governance must consider that there are significant changes that need to be made to institutional structures and processes, such as new forms of accountability, governance, systems and structures for citizen involvement. Therefore, a combination of practical, technical, ideological, relational and political factors must be considered in the adoption of more participatory approaches in establishing national ME systems.

Are we moving towards a managerial model of e-governance? building a case for citizen centric e-participation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Exploring the various information and communication technology measures adopted by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure ‘good and effective governance’ of the province, this paper aims to understand how far such e-governance initiatives endorse citizen’s participation in governance and what limitations are problematizing the quest for citizen engagement through such measures. The paper primarily explores and examines the service provider’s perspective through in-depth interviews with officials from KP Government’s IT focused departments. Applying the theoretical framework developed by Chadwick and May (2003), the paper argues that the KP government’s more than 140 plus IT based applications are mostly electronic versions of paper-based information posted on the websites, which makes it an information dissemination system rather than a fully interactive technology. There is little comprehension about ‘citizen engagement’ through e-government initiatives among bureaucrats and e-governance is largely seen as a one-sided provision of official information; citizen access to government services; or their access to the online complaint mechanisms. Officials also recognize that shortfall of essential infrastructure; public awareness deficits; accessibility issues; a lack of public trust in online service delivery mechanisms, and doubts over timely official response; all confound meaningful citizen participation in governance through the ICTs.

ICT AND THE PROSPECT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC

Abstract: The assumption in any democratic order is that governance is hinged on a reciprocal relationship between the leaders and the led. That is, the leadership responsiveness and accountability to the people on one hand, and the increasing participation in forms of demand and support from the people in government business on the other hand. This symbiotic relationship provides the platform that drives democracy which presupposes development. In Nigeria, following the return to civil rule in 1999, the country has witnessed continual citizen participation in governance which has gone a long way in enhancing leadership quality and development. This article argues that one way in which this has been done is the ever-rising use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools in the democratic space. Its deployment in different areas of governance has contributed to opening the democratic space, thus creating greater freedom and access to governmental machinery by the citizens and enhances the socio-political mobilization and participation necessary for functional operation of the government. Attempt is made to examine the use of various products of ICT, especially, social media and blogosphere in making demands of accountability and openness on the government by the citizenry. It maps out the existential obstacles to the use of ICT and its misuse in governance in Nigeria.
 Keywords: Information; Governance; ICT; Democratic; Accountability

Citizen participation as a tool for creating an effective e-Governance system in Iraq

In a resource abundant environment, the people of Iraq have no right in the governance system. Thus, Iraq faces significant challenges in E-governance. In order to enhance E-governance and transparency in Iraq there is a need for creating an E-governance system that can motivate citizen participation in governance in the long-run.
 Citizen participation is not effective, similar to the case of many other resource-rich countries in the Middle East and Africa. Since 2003, the Iraqi government has tried to tackle transparency, open governance, e-elections and e-governance; however, it failed. The failure may be attributed to different factors but the most crucial and influential one is lack of citizen participation. If people nurture E-governance, their collective effort will support government’s effort in building a strong E-governance system. The main question for this study is; how can citizen participation contribute in nurturing E-governance in the case of Iraq?
 This study outlines the role of effective citizen participation in creating E-governance in Iraq; this is a quantitative study Primary data collected from 100 participants was analyzed for this purpose. This study is composed of three main parts; the first part highlights theoretical perspective of Egovernance in Iraq, and citizen participation. The second part focuses on discussing the data on egovernance. The final session of this study deals with the findings, and conclusions.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN BUDGETARY PROCESSES IN NIGERIA: MYTH OR REALITY

Citizen participation in governance processes is critical for sustaining the development of any society. Citizen participation in budgetary processes is a system of promoting efficient and responsive government by having citizens input into resource allocation decisions. The paper noted that citizen-participation in governance is at its lowest in the nation. This paper is qualitative in nature, relying on secondary data, such as textbooks, journals, official documents etc. The paper is anchored on stakeholders’ theory which argues that citizen participation is a pillar of democracy and is necessary for a sustainable democracy. As a result, it gives every individual opportunity to influence and change political, social, economic and public decisions and allows citizens to be an important part of the democratic decision-making in Nigeria. It observed that since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria in 1999, efforts at participatory governance have never received the full backing of the ruling class, because they see it as a threat to their collective interest. The paper examines the mature of budgetary process in Nigeria, and states that participatory budgeting could be an important tool that can be used to encourage active citizenship in the transformation and development of their community. It concludes that the quality of democracy depends on how far people can participate in and influence the governance process. Citizen participation is critical for democratic decision-making and ensuring transparency and accountability.

Research on Citizen Participation in Government Ecological Environment Governance Based on the Research Perspective of "Dual Carbon Target".

As the people's demand for a better life is getting higher and higher, citizens' requirements for the rural ecological environment are also constantly improving. At present, the deterioration of many rural environments and the cross-flow of sewage have brought great challenges to the governance of the rural ecological environment. Therefore, the improvement in the ability and level of rural ecological environment governance is the key to winning the battle of rural ecological environment governance, and the participation of citizens in rural ecological environment governance is even more crucial to the improvement in the ability and level of rural ecological environment governance. At present, academic achievements on rural ecological environment governance are increasingly enriched, but there are few academic achievements on rural ecological environment governance from the perspective of citizen participation. Since public participation in ecological environment governance is still in the initial stage of development, there are many factors that affect the effective implementation and development of public participation in the ecological environment. For example, various factors such as the imperfect legal system related to citizens' participation in rural ecological environment governance, weak awareness of citizen participation, and difficulty in determining the methods of citizen participation seriously hinder citizens' participation. Improve the theme awareness and ability of citizens to participate in ecological environment governance and to improve the citizen participation mechanism in my country's rural ecological environment governance. By analyzing and discussing the problems and countermeasures of public participation in environmental governance in my country, it is of positive significance to promote citizens' participation in ecological environmental governance.

O Cipriano Barata e Frei Caneca no Correio do Rio de Janeiro (1823): a disseminação do republicanismo cívico na Corte

Based on the concepts of modernity of the public space,of liberal exileand Hispanic American experience, the present article intends to examine Cipriano Barata's and Frei Caneca's transcripts in Correio do Rio de Janeiro,in 1823, while its editor João Soares Lisboa was in prison for beingaccused of “colluding with Republicans”. These editions discussed civic virtues, the Emperor's morality, and the idealization of what Soares Lisboa called a “Monarchical-Democratic” government and disseminated, in the Court, the ruling centerof the Empire, a project forBrazil that foughtthe Upper House and defended provincial autonomy in a federal arrangement, with broad citizen participation in government, formation of militias and restrictionofthe monarch’s powers.

Design of Government-Citizen Participation Model for Sustainable eGovernment Ecosystem- Indian Context

Design of Government-Citizen Participation Model for Sustainable eGovernment Ecosystem- Indian Context