ITA manu:scripts, pp. , 2002/11/30
Information and communication technologies are increasingly used for supporting citizens' participation. With reference to the model of deliberative policy shown at the example of an online consultation and other eDemocracy tools, this contribution investigates whether the use of new technologies can improve democratic procedures so that the communication among the people concerned and thus the rational discourse before decision-making is positively influenced. As an important prerequisite for the use of new technologies in citizen participation processes, the term connectivity is introduced which means that these technologies may not only be evaluated from the technical point of view; in consideration of legal, organisational, cultural and political criteria, it has to be checked if they fit into the provided environment.