In recent decades, the idea of more participatory democracy has resulted in the creation of online platforms with different purposes. The European Union has taken an interest in the issue and recognized it as an interesting way to add a human factor to Smart City. However, although there have been several experiments, primarily by private individuals, there are no particular academic studies in this regard. Today it is difficult to understand if these platforms work effectively and improve participatory initiatives. There is a lack of studies that allow us to understand whom these initiatives are acting on concretely and their impact. This thesis aims to investigate precisely these aspects. To do this, an initiative was created, BresciaLiquida, which would re-propose the participatory model of the municipal initiative, Un Filo Naturale, on the online platform (adhocracy.plus). The goal of the two initiatives was to involve citizens in delineating areas to be regenerated in an eco-sustainable way and in designing these future spaces. The incentive to participate is that the ideas deemed best by the municipality will then be implemented. Thanks to the comparison between the two projects, it was possible to verify the efficiency of the initiatives. The study focused on compliance with smart cities' participatory initiatives, the quantity and heterogeneity of the participants and the impact that the study had on the participants on a personal level.
The results show that the online initiative attracted more people than the municipal initiative. The most significant differences lie in the age and civic engagement of the participants. However, both initiatives need more visibility for more people to be interested and participate. Other problems raised by the participants are transparency and lack of trust in the institution.
Anotace v angličtině
In recent decades, the idea of more participatory democracy has resulted in the creation of online platforms with different purposes. The European Union has taken an interest in the issue and recognized it as an interesting way to add a human factor to Smart City. However, although there have been several experiments, primarily by private individuals, there are no particular academic studies in this regard. Today it is difficult to understand if these platforms work effectively and improve participatory initiatives. There is a lack of studies that allow us to understand whom these initiatives are acting on concretely and their impact. This thesis aims to investigate precisely these aspects. To do this, an initiative was created, BresciaLiquida, which would re-propose the participatory model of the municipal initiative, Un Filo Naturale, on the online platform (adhocracy.plus). The goal of the two initiatives was to involve citizens in delineating areas to be regenerated in an eco-sustainable way and in designing these future spaces. The incentive to participate is that the ideas deemed best by the municipality will then be implemented. Thanks to the comparison between the two projects, it was possible to verify the efficiency of the initiatives. The study focused on compliance with smart cities' participatory initiatives, the quantity and heterogeneity of the participants and the impact that the study had on the participants on a personal level.
The results show that the online initiative attracted more people than the municipal initiative. The most significant differences lie in the age and civic engagement of the participants. However, both initiatives need more visibility for more people to be interested and participate. Other problems raised by the participants are transparency and lack of trust in the institution.
Klíčová slova
Participatory Democracy, Online platforms for Political Participation, Sustainability, Participation, Brescia.
Klíčová slova v angličtině
Participatory Democracy, Online platforms for Political Participation, Sustainability, Participation, Brescia.
Rozsah průvodní práce
20927 - 25979
Jazyk
AN
Anotace
In recent decades, the idea of more participatory democracy has resulted in the creation of online platforms with different purposes. The European Union has taken an interest in the issue and recognized it as an interesting way to add a human factor to Smart City. However, although there have been several experiments, primarily by private individuals, there are no particular academic studies in this regard. Today it is difficult to understand if these platforms work effectively and improve participatory initiatives. There is a lack of studies that allow us to understand whom these initiatives are acting on concretely and their impact. This thesis aims to investigate precisely these aspects. To do this, an initiative was created, BresciaLiquida, which would re-propose the participatory model of the municipal initiative, Un Filo Naturale, on the online platform (adhocracy.plus). The goal of the two initiatives was to involve citizens in delineating areas to be regenerated in an eco-sustainable way and in designing these future spaces. The incentive to participate is that the ideas deemed best by the municipality will then be implemented. Thanks to the comparison between the two projects, it was possible to verify the efficiency of the initiatives. The study focused on compliance with smart cities' participatory initiatives, the quantity and heterogeneity of the participants and the impact that the study had on the participants on a personal level.
The results show that the online initiative attracted more people than the municipal initiative. The most significant differences lie in the age and civic engagement of the participants. However, both initiatives need more visibility for more people to be interested and participate. Other problems raised by the participants are transparency and lack of trust in the institution.
Anotace v angličtině
In recent decades, the idea of more participatory democracy has resulted in the creation of online platforms with different purposes. The European Union has taken an interest in the issue and recognized it as an interesting way to add a human factor to Smart City. However, although there have been several experiments, primarily by private individuals, there are no particular academic studies in this regard. Today it is difficult to understand if these platforms work effectively and improve participatory initiatives. There is a lack of studies that allow us to understand whom these initiatives are acting on concretely and their impact. This thesis aims to investigate precisely these aspects. To do this, an initiative was created, BresciaLiquida, which would re-propose the participatory model of the municipal initiative, Un Filo Naturale, on the online platform (adhocracy.plus). The goal of the two initiatives was to involve citizens in delineating areas to be regenerated in an eco-sustainable way and in designing these future spaces. The incentive to participate is that the ideas deemed best by the municipality will then be implemented. Thanks to the comparison between the two projects, it was possible to verify the efficiency of the initiatives. The study focused on compliance with smart cities' participatory initiatives, the quantity and heterogeneity of the participants and the impact that the study had on the participants on a personal level.
The results show that the online initiative attracted more people than the municipal initiative. The most significant differences lie in the age and civic engagement of the participants. However, both initiatives need more visibility for more people to be interested and participate. Other problems raised by the participants are transparency and lack of trust in the institution.
Klíčová slova
Participatory Democracy, Online platforms for Political Participation, Sustainability, Participation, Brescia.
Klíčová slova v angličtině
Participatory Democracy, Online platforms for Political Participation, Sustainability, Participation, Brescia.
Zásady pro vypracování
This Master thesis should be between 20.000 and 30.000 words -including footnotes but excluding bibliography and annexes; Chicago Referencing; Deadline 1st of August 2022.
The structure of this: I. Introduction II. Research question and hypothesis III. Literary Review IV. Results V. Discussion VI. Conclusions VII. Bibliography
Subchapters will be needed to make the thesis more comprehensible.
Zásady pro vypracování
This Master thesis should be between 20.000 and 30.000 words -including footnotes but excluding bibliography and annexes; Chicago Referencing; Deadline 1st of August 2022.
The structure of this: I. Introduction II. Research question and hypothesis III. Literary Review IV. Results V. Discussion VI. Conclusions VII. Bibliography
Subchapters will be needed to make the thesis more comprehensible.
Seznam doporučené literatury
Abramowitz, Ben, and Nicholas Mattei. Flexible Representative Democracy: An Introduction with Binary Issues. In IJCAI, 2019.
Bloembergen, D., Davide Grossi, and M. Lackner. On Rational Delegations in Liquid Democracy. AAAI, 2019.
Brennan, Jason. Against Democracy. Reprint edizione. Princeton Oxford: Princeton Univ Pr, 2017.
Chan, Michael. Social Network Sites and Political Engagement: Exploring the Impact of Facebook Connections and Uses on Political Protest and Participation. Mass Communication and Society 19, no. 4 (3 July 2016).
Crouch, Colin. Post Democracy. Malden: Polity Pr, 2004.
Dalton, Russell, Wilhelm Burklin, and Andrew Drummond. Public Opinion and Direct Democracy. Journal of Democracy 12 (1 October 2001).
Milbrath, Lester W. Political Participation. In The Handbook of Political Behavior: Volume 4, edited by Samuel L. Long. Boston, MA: Springer US, 1981.
Morrell, Michael E. Citizens Evaluations of Participatory Democratic Procedures: Normative Theory Meets Empirical Science. Political Research Quarterly 52, no. 2 (1999).
Norris, Pippa. Democratic Deficit: Critical Citizens Revisited. Cambridge University Press, 2011.
Paivarinta, Tero, and Oystein Saebo. Models of EDemocracy. Communications of the Association for Information Systems 17 (2006).
Webb, Paul. Who Is Willing to Participate? Dissatisfied Democrats, Stealth Democrats and Populists in the United Kingdom. European Journal of Political Research 52, no. 6 (2013).
Seznam doporučené literatury
Abramowitz, Ben, and Nicholas Mattei. Flexible Representative Democracy: An Introduction with Binary Issues. In IJCAI, 2019.
Bloembergen, D., Davide Grossi, and M. Lackner. On Rational Delegations in Liquid Democracy. AAAI, 2019.
Brennan, Jason. Against Democracy. Reprint edizione. Princeton Oxford: Princeton Univ Pr, 2017.
Chan, Michael. Social Network Sites and Political Engagement: Exploring the Impact of Facebook Connections and Uses on Political Protest and Participation. Mass Communication and Society 19, no. 4 (3 July 2016).
Crouch, Colin. Post Democracy. Malden: Polity Pr, 2004.
Dalton, Russell, Wilhelm Burklin, and Andrew Drummond. Public Opinion and Direct Democracy. Journal of Democracy 12 (1 October 2001).
Milbrath, Lester W. Political Participation. In The Handbook of Political Behavior: Volume 4, edited by Samuel L. Long. Boston, MA: Springer US, 1981.
Morrell, Michael E. Citizens Evaluations of Participatory Democratic Procedures: Normative Theory Meets Empirical Science. Political Research Quarterly 52, no. 2 (1999).
Norris, Pippa. Democratic Deficit: Critical Citizens Revisited. Cambridge University Press, 2011.
Paivarinta, Tero, and Oystein Saebo. Models of EDemocracy. Communications of the Association for Information Systems 17 (2006).
Webb, Paul. Who Is Willing to Participate? Dissatisfied Democrats, Stealth Democrats and Populists in the United Kingdom. European Journal of Political Research 52, no. 6 (2013).
Přílohy volně vložené
2 emails concerning the budget, 2 lists of the questions that were asked to participants.