Building+Democracy+through+online+citizen+deliberation

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E-Democracy refers to the use of online tools to empower private citizens to become meaningfully engaged in actual public policy making.
 * Building Democracy Through Online Citizen Deliberation**
 * Framework for Action – Copyright© 2008 by Peter M. Shane. All rights reserved.**

Before launching an online consultation or deliberation, it is critical: a) to decide to what extent you are committed to taking public opinion into account in your decision making; and b) to communicate clearly the nature of that commitment.

It is critical to design ways for citizen-participants to become informed about issues under discussion through an approach that representatives of a wide spectrum of ideas will all accept as fair. Consultation is based upon asking advice, while a deliberative model takes that advice and ties it to actual decision-making. Any successful process design requires tradeoffs between the intensity of small groups and the representativeness of larger samples. Every online process design entails tradeoffs. You should consider how the tradeoffs relate to your public outreach objectives and choose design elements that will emphasize those objectives, even at the cost of others. Governments need to develop consultation in an environment in which people can discover ways to take action themselves, not only when the government is also involved. If your agency is staging a public consultation, you have to be clear, both within the agency and in dealing with the public- as to the nature of the consultation. A public consultation is unlikely to have the trust building impacts your agency hopes for if you don’t have the resources necessary to follow through in staging a high-quality effort. Even if an online process is contemplated, initial public should be considered to introduce the online process, explain it and allow for answers and questions.

Face to face large open spaces, all participants in one room; six hour session, usually Saturdays; all participants receive same background information; rounds of 10; lead facilitator provides technical information to entire group; moderators at each table (facilitator); participants raise card to have questions answered by planner or politician; each table has a laptop to record point of agreement; data is transported to theme team recorder ( 10 tables per theme); large screens display themes for all to see; participants vote on these issues with keypads; participants do not address the large group personally; large public sampling, inclusive, demographically broad; recruitment through newspapers, magazines, radio spots. (3 week window); stakeholder network communications, (3 weeks in advance) (interest groups); on the ground recruitment 1-2 weeks prior (phone, fax and web); 75% pre-book, 25% last day
 * Case Study Reports**
 * Key Issues of Online Consultation**
 * Design and Deployment**
 * A. How to attract and sustain citizen participation.**

On line forums set up chat rooms for specific themes. (20-25 people per room ) difficulties occur trying to moderate and come to agreement. On line lasts for days and there is no media outreach for participants. How do you build on line grass roots support for civic deliberation? Leaders need to be online as well. The champions (community organizers, elected officials) of civic engagement need to be online in order to attract their constituents. An ongoing forum will keep citizens engaged and educated on the topic even if they do not actively participate.

The group considered the initial issues that would be involved with the endeavor, evaluated secondary considerations, then set forth the worst case scenario and the corresponding planning and prevention for the potential occurrence of these types of events. Construct an audience “sociogram,”; who will the audience be, what interests do they represent, and what is their relationship with each other? Set goals and objectives, assess public’s access to technology, determine their knowledge of usage, and prepare to provide public access. Address costs of setting up, consulting fees, etc.
 * B. What practical issues of technology, organization and personnel arise for governments seeking to implement E –democracy?**
 * Planning a local online consultation**
 * Initial considerations**

Logistics: evaluating workflow, project management and scheduling the purchase of technology and outreach activities. designing, testing and evaluating the system. determine whether consultation design should by synchronous or asynchronous. how will the issue be discussed: framing the questions: creating a workbook; policy makers participation and legal implications if any. Worst-case scenario: identifying, planning and prevention Technology failures external – power outage, hackers; internal – system crashes, incorrect programming; testing and training - pre-tests long before event; logistics/project management.
 * Secondary considerations**

Contingency plans group of trained officials and staff. (chain of command); end users and facilitators need training (guide books); back up plan, (teleconferencing).

Public relations Worst-case scenarios range from public relations to culture. Important news event or story overshadows deliberation. Cultural or language barriers exist, hindering participation, or low or no interest.

Publicize well, include translators, and transcripts.

Policy Worst-case scenarios include leadership and politics. Neglecting to include relevant issues, politicians back out,

form steering committee to determine goals, issues, and focus upon preferred outcomes; eliminate surprises and maximize inclusion. (One page guideline – introduction);

Budget/legal Worst-case scenario – technology company goes bankrupt, budgets are cut, and lawsuits are filed due to censorship, failure to comply with rights statues etc. develop scaleable budget, seek alternate means of funding (grants, sponsors, etc.) FOIP, PIPA, notifications on website. (Filter rather than delete information to avoid censorship issues.)

Manage expectations, do what is fiscally reasonable; Technology, ensure adequate and effective software is used, ensure adequate facilities Notice, use earned media and public relations. Budget/legal, scalable notice and filtering system, use in-house counsel
 * On-line deliberation on a tight budget: Final thoughts**

Sensible strategizing requires planners to consider a community’s technological environment and community norms. Successful e-democracy initiatives may need to begin with discrete, realistic goals. Keeping emotions and tempers under control in online discussion can be challenging because people often act online differently from their face-to-face interactions. Consistent communications regarding outcomes will help online civic engagement grow.
 * C: How can communities help prepare all citizens to participate effectively in E-Democracy? **

Online discussions are usually well served if the goal of the discussion is clearly defined and remains visible when participants are interacting online. personal screening – intrusive, impractical, and raises questions about openness; filters - automated moderator/filter screens phrases etc.; self moderated – rating system, positive ratings received from constructive submissions; ground rules - no personal attacks, stay on topic, avoid interpersonal issues between participants, observe work limits; post discussion goal on screen, redefine when necessary (participant feedback helpful for redefining); people may find it easier to start dialogue constructively if they are asked, first, to identify the interest they hope will be protected in any solution to the problem at hand and why and only later, their particular position on how the problem should be addressed. An optimum civic outreach plan needs to be on a continuum, combining physical and virtual methods; perhaps a face-to-face kick-off.
 * D: How to establish and maintain norms of civil online discourse.**

Don’t think of face-to-face and online engagement as alternative, but as complementary components of an overall public outreach strategy. Most practitioners agree that, whether or not members have to disclose their identities, discussants should be required to have a single identity throughout the discussion. Preparatory materials sent on-line, face-to-face kick off, and online debate and discussion. Consider having a standing committee that addresses current issues on an ongoing basis. Allowing anonymous participation online may promote more creative brainstorming, but deliberating over actual policy choices probably works better if people are known by some stable identity through which they can be held accountable for what they say. Any successful meeting, online or face-to-face, depends on a clear agenda, access to background information, and well-described ground rules, such as treating all participants with respect. As a safeguard, organizers should monitor the recruiting in terms of basic demographic variables, such as gender, age, income, race and education, to ensure that the recruiting is proceeding without bias. Recruiters should account for no-shows and refusals when determining how many citizens to recruit for a specific project. Information presented to people as a basis for discussion has to be accurate, honest, complete, and balanced in order to be credible and avoid charges of bias or propaganda. High quality briefing materials containing useful background material about the topics to be considered are of fundamental importance to most e-democracy projects. Conveners take on a major responsibility for education the participants and the quality of the outcome can be only as sound as the quality of the information driving the process.
 * E: How can e-democracy tools and face-to-face civic interaction best be integrated?**

Keep your goal visible. Keep your rules visible Use moderation effectively and sparingly Open a “parking lot” - create an alternative channel for free-form input. Offer an alternative channel for free-form input. Offer outside spaces for outside discussion try and try again Be a role model Reframe off-topic comments Redefine “on topic”
 * Ten tips for keeping discussions on topic**