Democracy and e-Participation in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

The article aims at analyzing verifiable implications of e-participation initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. The central issue at stake is whether e-participation networks – developed for political activism on the internet – really contribute to the development and legitimacy of democratic practices. To answer this question a research was carried out with the goal of mapping and analyzing five hundred and twenty-six e-participation initiatives of the region available at the database of Latinno project. Specific goals included identifying the implications of the initiatives and their effective results; analyzing the repercussions according to their means and ends; developing a comparative analysis of the implications of the initiatives regarding several characteristics such as their degree of formalization and influence in decision-making processes. Also of interest was to analyze the non-intentional results and different modes of policy action related to the initiatives studied. The initiatives tend to consolidate and reinforce democratic practices; increase communication channels between government and citizens; enhance citizens´ representation possibilities and strengthen legal and political mechanisms for social control. Nevertheless, there is still a significantly small number of initiatives that show effective and identifiable results. A high penetrability of the initiatives in formal political processes increases the chances of e-participation initiatives become means of consolidating and legitimizing democratic processes and practices.