Enabling Participatory Democracy

The need for democratic society

As an operational system which enables citizens to be part of decision making process which affects their quality of life

As an environment which enhances individual capabilities

As a process which facilitates balanced development

Existing Political systems Within democracy itself, there are different forms

which are known to exist

Predominantly, the world has known and practiced liberal democracy

The current system has alienated citizens from the government, falling pray to authoritarianism and immobilizm

The only mode of participation is election-limited representation

Technology and the state

What role can technology have in democracy

Asymmetry of information

To create conditions of free and equal practice of political self-determination

Technology is bringing down cost of governance, increasing accountability and efficiency of official resources

Conduct of the government improves while strengthening foundation of state institution

ICT in India: Current scenario

As of Dec, ‘13-213 million internet users with penetration rate of 15.8 percent

Internet connectivity has risen on the back of mobile telephony with projection of 75 percent of internet users on internet-enabled devices

As of June, ‘14-185 million internet users were on mobile devices

The entire mobile eco-system contributed 1.3 percent of GDP (2012)

Civic engagement through ICT In a short span, internet and mobile technology has

become a part of life. By 2014, the world will have 3 billion internet users, two-third in the developing world alone. This calls for questioning the role of ICT

Three main arguments to judge the role of ICT in governance and society-

I. Success of ICT in correcting the defects of the electoral system

II. Extent of spread of information through ICT from state to society

III. Initiation of public opinion using ICT and enabling of civic engagement

The age old Rural-Urban divide Prima facie, figures show that internet penetration is

higher in urban spaces with 67 percent of total users

The use of ICT remains restricted with rural geographies relying on traditional communication means

Majority of 833 million rural citizens do not have access to broadband or mobile internet

Paradoxical situation where the majority of the population has no access to communication technology

Rural youth will be at loss the most (68 percent)-their interests and opinions are yet to reach national advocacy level

Reaping the Demography Quality of education and quantity of employment

remain the pertinent issue

Unemployment among youth (15-29 yrs) is higher with higher level of education

Females are at further disadvantaged position

The failure of the state in providing a stable future to youth translates into discontent and unrest in present

Destructive discourse could germinate regarding the function of the state

ICT can channel horizontal information flow-dialogue among the individuals given the presence of such required assets

Citizen and government: The dialogue

Having information need not necessarily imply the conversation will occur

Government has been ensuring that information flows out to the masses-basic precondition

Delivery of G2C services however is not reaching the marginalized and weak

Problem is compounded by low literacy of the technical kind which obstructs any analysis of information that is present

Technology as an asset The initial step towards civic engagement is the

ownership of assets which facilitate it

Current situation points at constrained access to technology oriented assets by households

Rural households are the most disadvantageous

The state function should include not only delivery of ICT enabled services but also delivery of assets that will run the services

Society’s demand function

As societies progress from traditional agrarian nature to industrial state, the consumption bundle changes

Basic needs are replaced with the demand for equality, welfare and state accountability

Society determines the political, geographical and cultural factors affecting its demand function

An inherent assumption is the presence of government in its role of providing public goods

Technology in development Technology plays a definite role in development

process

As a means to this end, technology is part of society’s consumption bundle

Utility from ICT ranges in various forms-depending on self-interest motive or in macro context, choosing a policy initiative

Technology facilitates citizen involvement, thereby making democracy work

The ability to share and access information is the cornerstone of democracy in modern societies

Capability of participation

Modern politics has to ensure public trust-for which a shared framework of beliefs and interactive links is required

Citizens are the stakeholders in the government (business entity)-participation is essential

Participation in decision making process is the enabling feature of direct democracy

This capability is ensured through the use of technology

The beginning Evidences across Indian states reveal that

implementation of ICT in governance relies on certain level of growth

Making further inroads depends how selective successes can be implemented in lesser developed regions

The process of engagement should initiate from the presence of responsibility of participation

Hindering this process is the digital divide and also relevancy of content

Going forward-need to analyze the dynamics of civic engagement

State needs to sustain conditions for participation and economize the costs of such participation

The role of ICT is ultimately of mediator-what ultimate use of it will be made depends on the two actors on stage