E-Participation for Young people in Europe: Lessons Learned on a Cross-National Level

Michael Sachs, Judith Schossböck,Zentrum für E-Governance

CEDEM14 – Conference for E-Democracy and Open Government

About the OurSpace ProjectAbout the OurSpace Project

• Cross border, 4 languages: AT, CZ, GR, UK• ~ 4300 Users, 4900 posts, 6100 likes, 600 topics

• July 2010 - December 2013• 4 stages deliberation process:

• propose, discuss, vote, summary (45 complete debates)• 20 politicians participated actively, mostly MEPs

• partly topic creation by decision makers• Engagement of young users:

• Most successful strategies: offline events, direct mass communciation campaigns, and dedicated topic campaigns

• E-participation environment with a modular design and an interested, young and politically diverse community

• Available on JOINUP.eu

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

• Language major obstacle in cross-national debate• “OurSpace is a good means to get involved or more

interested in politics” • 75 % positive responses of 420 participants in user questionnaire

• More involvement from politicians requested• institutional or political commitment necessary

• Qualitative participation in deliberation processes takes long time• contrasts the speed of the internet and social networks

• Moderation necessary • low content moderation but guidance (e.g. proposal functionality)

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

Michael Sachs Judith SchossböckMichael.Sachs@donau-uni.ac.at Judith.Schossböck@donau-uni.ac.at

www.joinourspace.eu