The Internet’s Gift to Democratic Governance: The Fifth Estate

Many administrations have launched major initiatives to put public information and services online. Increasingly, citizens and businesses can go online for many public digital government services. Similar initiatives have been tied to digital democracy, such as efforts to support democratic institutions and processes, policy consultations, and improved access to government documents and data. Nevertheless, many continue to view the Internet as a marginal, if not irrelevant, tool in political campaigns, elections and other democratic engagements. To many, it is more of a risk than an opportunity, such as in promoting direct forms of political participation — so-called point-and-click democracy — that lack adequate information and public deliberation. Nevertheless, most of these digital democracy initiatives are driven by an effort to maintain and enhance existing democratic institutions.