Next week, OSCE/ODIHR is organizing a session on electronic democracy at the annual HDS here in Warsaw/Poland from 18-20 May 2011.
Questions to be discussed by the participants include:
- How e-democracy tools have been able to increase internal party democracy, in
particular by increasing citizen input into (party) policy and manifesto
development, and candidate selection;- The impact of e-tools on political campaigning, including through tools for
citizens to compare and contrast party programmes, for citizen grass-roots
organizing within political campaigns- E-tools for increasing accountability and transparency; for instance, monitoring
political and campaign finance; keeping track of parliamentarians’ assets,
interests, activity and voting records;- How e-tools have increased possibilities for citizen input into policy making,
legislation drafting and decision making processes (e.g. through e-petitions,
public commenting on draft legislation);- The possible impact of e-tools on the participation of groups that are
socioeconomically, geographically, culturally, or physically disadvantaged, and
are as such often under-represented in public and political life; Whether or not etools
are actually able to reach out to otherwise excluded groups of citizens or if
they are only “engaging the already engaged”;- What lessons can be learned from projects to use e-democracy tools; what
potential pitfalls should be considered; How this work has evolved, and in which
direction it should go.
More information (incl. registration) at http://www.odihr.pl/76492.