Introduction

Posted by Barry Griffiths on January 25th 2007

‘Digital Dialogues’ is a pilot initiative established by the Democratic Engagement Branch of the Ministry of Justice (former DCA). As part of its remit to promote public engagement, the Democratic Engagement Branch has a cross-government responsibility for embedding the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to support dialogue with the public and strengthen the government’s openness and transparency, particularly in policy making.

The dual-purpose of Digital Dialogues is to:

  • Assess the capacity of ICT to support central government’s communication and consultation activity (principally with the public but also with internal stakeholders);
  • Build the capacity within central government for setting up, managing and evaluating ICT as a mechanism for encouraging and supporting public participation in the policy process.

The initiative aims to inform government’s strategy for applying ICT across its communication and consultation processes through analysis of case studies. These case studies are a combination of existing activity and specifically commissioned exercises undertaken by government agencies, departments and ministerial offices. In addition to improving government’s understanding of the democratic engagement potential of ICT, Digital Dialogues also contributes to ongoing public debate about the role of technology in an inclusive and vibrant representative democracy.

The Digital Dialogues initiative has been divided into two phases of action research. The first took place between December 2005 and August 2006; the second will be conducted between August 2006 and January 2007, reporting in April 2007. Part one of this report provides a brief overview of the emergence of ICT in a public engagement context. Parts two and three relate to the case studies and the draft guidance informed by the Digital Dialogues initiative. Part four unpacks the key findings from Phase One and sets out the next phase of the initiative.

The Ministry of Justice (former DCA)commissioned the Hansard Society to oversee and evaluate the Digital Dialogues case-studies. The Hansard Society is an independent, non-partisan educational charity established in 1944 to promote and support effective parliamentary democracy. The Society set up its eDemocracy Programme in 1997 to undertake research and development work around new media technology. Before Digital Dialogues, the eDemocracy Programme had undertaken similar ICT-led participation initiatives at parliamentary and local government levels. For more information visit www.hansardsociety.org.uk

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