Paper short abstract:

This presentation considers the possibilities & challenges of using digital tools to combat political disillusionment. Specifically, it appraises parliamentary e-petitions systems as a tool to bring citizens ‘in’ to political institutions by focusing on equity of access and platform sustainability

Paper long abstract:

In a political climate replete with disillusionment, political institutions around the world are seeking to address declines in participation by reinvigorating the public’s involvement in politics. The UK Parliament is one example. It has employed new digital technologies to improve public understanding of what Parliament is and equip citizens with the tools to engage with their representatives, to have their voices heard and to influence the policy making process.

Based on my PhD findings, I explore the possibilities and challenges of using digital technologies to open Parliament up and bring a centuries-old institution into the 21st century. I focus on the opportunities that the (joint) House of Commons and Government e-petitions system have brought in bringing citizens ‘in’. Namely, the public’s ability to engage directly with elected representatives and influence the parliamentary agenda.

I consider what it takes to ensure equitable access to Parliament through e-petitions by comparing the experiences of individual e-petition creators versus e-petitions created by campaign groups. Asking whether access, use and outcomes are the same speaks directly to the question of ‘good for whom?’ By reflecting on these challenges, I consider whether an e-petition system is a sustainable platform on which to build a more engaged and, one can hope, excited citizenry, or whether it is another avenue towards inequity and disillusionment.

With Parliament underway in using digital tools for public engagement, now is an opportune moment to reflect on how these tools can bring us closer to a politically engaged citizenry.