The role of managing the top-down processes in e-democracy

The local public administration effectiveness in managing the top-down participatory processes is determined through their understanding of e-democracy platforms and their role in the local system

City officials have an undeniable part in the implementation of participatory democracy measures at the local level in some cases. They are responsible for integrating participatory tools into the local system of governance. Because of that it is crucial to understand whether their interpretation of how e-democracy platforms should be implemented can have an impact on their actual use and by that on the city’s participatory assemblage, regardless of the political will, communities engagement with the platform or local regulations.

Cities where there are significant differences in administrative structure and the direct units responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the platforms. Warsaw - https://konsultacje.um.warszawa.pl/?locale=pl Milan - https://partecipazione.comune.milano.it/ Nancy - https://jeparticipe.metropolegrandnancy.fr/.

Primary Question: Does the difference in local officials' interpretation of the role of participatory platforms in the system of governance may influence the way the participatory processes are being implemented? Secondary: Is there an impact of local officials' experiences with deliberative or participatory democracy on how they perceive the role of an e-democracy platform?

- Local officials interpretations may directly influence how the platform is being used at the city level - The experience of deliberative or participatory institutions changes the officials perception of the role of the e-democracy platform in the local system of governance.

- The hypothesis may show the importance of local administration in the way the participatory platforms are implemented as a part of the system of governance. It can also inform on how experiences with deliberative or participatory measures can have an indirect impact on the implementation of e-democracy platforms.