Explaining eDemocracy development: A quantitative empirical study

The increased usage of information and communication technology and especially the Internet as a vehicle for democratic participation may be regarded in very different ways. First of all, the development of ‘eDemocracy’ may be seen as a matter of increased instrumental opportunity: these applications are purposively developed because the Internet provides new and better ways of reaching the citizen and thereby improving democracy. In second place, eDemocracy development can be viewed as an expression of political will: speed and direction of this development are determined by decisions and actions of political stake holders. Last but not least, it may be argued that eDemocracy is especially the result of autonomous technological development: with the advent of information and communication technology eDemocracy is a more or less unavoidable consequence, regardless of the potential benefits and hazards. This article investigates the explanatory power of these three perspectives, taking the empirical case of eDemocracy development in Dutch municipalities. A quantitative analysis leads to the conclusion that, at least in this specific context, eDemocracy development is not so much a result of objective needs and opportunities or of political steering. Instead, it is first and foremost explained as a result of the advancement of ICT in the municipal administration and of the development of municipal e-service provision in particular.