The Influence of Local Political Culture on the Effectiveness of E-Democracy Platforms

The effectiveness of e-democracy platforms in fostering inclusive participation is significantly influenced by their embeddedness within the local political culture and urban development models of the city.

E-democracy platforms, such as Decidim, are designed to enhance civic engagement by providing digital spaces for citizen participation. However, the success and inclusivity of these platforms can vary widely based on how well they are integrated into the existing political culture and urban development strategies of a city. This hypothesis examines the role of local political culture in shaping the effectiveness of these platforms.

- Decidim's implementation in Barcelona, where the platform is integrated with local political culture. - Comparisons with Helsinki and Lisbon, examining how differences in political culture affect the platform's adoption and use. - Potential cases in Ireland and the Czech Republic to compare how varying political cultures influence platform success.

Primary Question: How does the local political culture of a city influence the effectiveness of e-democracy platforms in fostering inclusive participation? Secondary Questions: What aspects of local political culture facilitate or hinder the integration of e-democracy platforms? How do urban development models impact the adoption and use of these platforms? Are there specific elements of political culture that correlate with higher levels of citizen engagement through e-democracy platforms?

- Citizens have access to the internet and are willing to use digital tools for participation. - Local governments are supportive of implementing and integrating e-democracy platforms. - There is a baseline level of digital literacy among the population.

- Partners to identify potential cases in Ireland and the Czech Republic to compare how varying political cultures influence platform success.

- Desk research - Action research - Interviews

- Cities with political cultures that value inclusivity and citizen participation will see higher levels of engagement on e-democracy platforms. - Urban development models that incorporate digital infrastructure will facilitate better integration and use of these platforms. - Identification of specific cultural elements that enhance or impede the effectiveness of e-democracy initiatives.