E-participation in portuguese local governments: a sociological approach

Abstract

In this paper we deal with the emergence of new forms of electronic participation in Portuguese local governments. Using some examples of e-participation in municipalities, we sustain that the correlation between technical modernization and the improvement of citizen participation is far from being taken for granted. Nevertheless, we may indeed find in some municipalities a changing attitude, more favourable to democratic participation, where the use of new technologies plays an important role. We also believe that some aspects of the classic debate on the relationship between the size of the municipality and its potential to embrace participation are also relevant in the context of e-participation. Finally, we present some comments on the future of these participatory mechanisms.