A New Agenda for e-Democracy

Abstract

This report is based on the policy forum A New Agenda for E-democracy: Lessons from Initiatives Round the World, held at Oxford University's Oxford Internet Institute (OII) on 6-7 May 2004. It is one of a series of forum-based discussion papers produced by the OII. The event started on the evening of 6 May with presentations on the opportunities and challenges of e-democracy by Tracy Westen of the US-based Center for Governmental Studies, Stephen Coleman of the Oxford Internet Institute, and Matthew Taylor, policy adviser to the UK Prime Minister. It continued the next day with a roundtable discussion involving 35 specially invited practitioners, policy-makers and commentators from 13 countries (see Appendix 1). In addition to drawing on the research of many participants, including position papers written for the event, this discussion paper is informed by their relevant knowledge and practical experience in education, business, government and research. Wider sources than those covered at the Forum are also drawn on to provide a broader background.

Keywords: e-democracy, internet, democracy, policy, citizen engagement, government, technoogy