Designing Web Technologies for Local Governance Reform
This paper examines the extent to which innovative applications of web technology might advance local governance reform. Synthesizing theories from communications, public policy, urban political science, and political philosophy, it develops two basic approaches to local governance reform. The entrepreneurial model envisions the city primarily as a local service provider, while the participatory model stresses the civic character of cities. We then use a systematic content analysis of 270 municipal web sites in California to examine the extent to which applications of Internet technology support each model of reform. We conclude that most municipal web sites lack a clear mission, and provide few of the features that might effect meaningful improvements to local governance. Those that do promote a particular approach appear more likely to support entrepreneurial than participatory reforms. A few exemplar sites, nevertheless, provide a rich array of information, and structure communications channels in a fashion that might improve democratic processes.
This paper examines the extent to which current uses of web technology have the potential to support reform of local governance. The rapid adoption of Internet technologies by government and political officials suggests that they may be valuable tools for governance reform. There has been particular attention, both in academia and professional practice, to local government uses of electronic technology (Varley, 1994;Hague and Loader, 1999; Tsagarousianou, Tambini, and Bryan, 1998). Nonetheless, the debate regarding democratic uses of new communications technologies has remained largely speculative. There has been little systematic empirical evidence regarding the quality of government services on-line and the extent to which government use of technology provides the information and interactive capabilities that can meaningfully improve governance.1 This paper analyzes the extent to which on-line innovations to government communications support entrepreneurial or participatory reforms among California cities. We draw upon theory in communications, urban policy, and political philosophy to distinguish the features of entrepreneurial and participatory reforms, and consider the manner in Internet technologies might support each approach to reform. Using a systematic content analysis of 270 municipal web sites in California, we explore the extent to which municipal uses of communications technologies appear designed to further governance reform. We conclude that the majority of municipal web sites are poorly designed, with few innovative applications of technology, and no clear mission. Those sites that do provide rich information or innovative communication capabilities appear to promote “good management” rather than “good democracy.” Their information and communications applications tend to concentrate heavily in the areas of enterprise and service provision functions, rather than facilitating communication between residents, access to policy makers, or democratic discourse generally. Only a few exemplar sites provide a rich array of information, and structure communications channels in a fashion that might improve democratic processe
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