Voluntary Organisations and eDemocracy

Results of the VSIIS Projectwww.models-research.ie/projects/vsiis.html

EVE eDemocracy Workshop, CNRS, Paris

11 January 2002

Susan O’Donnell, Models Research

Sectors of society (?)

GovernmentCommercialThird Sector

How do voluntary organisations (VO) support eDemocracy?

1. Supporting the online political process

2. Strengthening civil society

3. Expanding online content and the public sphere

4. Increasing social capital

1. VO supporting the online political process

• VO using the Internet to interact with local and national government

• VO mediating government content online

2. VO strengthening civil society

• VO using the Internet to build capacity as civil society organisations

• Building networks of VO working on behalf of disadvantaged groups

3. VO expanding online content and the public sphere

• VO producing online content to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups

• VO introducing the views of marginalised groups to the wider public sphere

4. VO increasing social capital

• Increasing awareness of ICTs

• Building trust in ICTs

• Providing support and networks for the disadvantaged