Styles of Communication (Dec 2018)
The Use and Misuse of ICT in Local Civil Dialogue in Poland
Abstract
This article aims to analyze the extent to which the authorities of eighteen Polish cities with the status of provincial capitals use ICT to stimulate local civil dialogue. The quantitative analysis of the content of Internet media managed by local self-government institutions shows that over 80% of the aforementioned cities have not implemented an integrated online system, which would allow residents to report current local problems and obtain feedback concerning these issues. The analysis of online tools utilized during public consultations indicated that the most frequently adopted mechanisms are those, which not only exclude the in-depth dialogue between authorities and citizens but also deprive residents of a chance to respond to opinions of other members of the local community. An analogous situation also occurs during participatory budgeting, the formula of which includes the involvement of citizens at an early stage of a decision-making process. While residents of almost three-fourths of the analyzed cities can submit proposals of budgetary tasks via the Internet, only every fourth provincial capital uses online tools allowing residents to comment on the aforementioned projects. This situation should be perceived as a part of a broader problem – the vast majority of the analyzed cities have not even made an attempt at using ICT to establish a platform enabling a permanent, bilateral exchange of ideas and opinions between residents and local policymakers.
