The point of departure of our analysis on the evolving role of the state in contemporary society is offered by the innovations introduced by e-government within the democratic, administrative and bureaucratic processes of the modern state. A vast literature on this topic presents e-government as a great opportunity to innovate the business of government, for instance by the re-introduction of N...

An empirical investigation on virtual communities shows how conflictive institutions influence the way members perceive their online interactions as being supportive or not of a more democratic debate. On the one hand community members identify their discussion lists as a space for free speech, emphasizing the relevance of having more access to information and channels for influencing society o...

The success of LPF, like the success of similar populist movements that preceded it in Austria, France, Switzerland and elsewhere, raises grave questions about the legitimacy of democratic inputs to public decision making and the efficacy of public action however decided. At the very least these successes signal an impaired responsiveness of the democratic state to its electorate: a democratic ...