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Electronic democracy.

State of the art and future agenda

22-24 January 2008
Stellenbosch (South Africa) at STIAS (Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies)

RC 10 Acting chairs :
Prof. Norbert Kersting (Department of Political Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
Prof. Harald Baldersheim (Department of Political Science, University of Oslo, Norway)
Dr. Kimmo Grönlund (Abo Akademi, Vasa, Finland)

The ongoing penetration of the Internet in private households since the 90’s led to high expectations using this instrument on strengthening democracy. The internet should enable a greater transparency and new ways of political communication.
The workshop provides an overview of the international pilot projects. The implementation of E-democracy in the different countries is also determined by political cultural aspects and legal regulations. The comparative analysis should also provide information, whether the instrument is useful for the improvement of the democratic process in different political cultural settings.

Programme

Tuesday 22.1.2008 Preliminary time table

13.00-14.00
Welcome and Introduction (Prof. Norbert Kersting, University of Stellenbosch)
14.00-16.30
1. E democracy- theory
Lawrence Pratchett, Prof. (De Montfort University, Leicester, UK) : E-citizenship
Monique Leyenaar, Prof. (University Nijmegen, Netherlands): E-democracy: blessing or curse?

16.30-18.30
2. Digital divide
Harald Baldersheim, Prof. (University of Oslo) / Morten Ögard (University of Agder, Norway): The digital divide in a centre-periphery perspective. Supply-side analyses
Fanie Cloete, Prof (University Stellenbosch): Overcoming the digital divide through strategic electronic government initiatives

Wednesday 23.1.2008

9.00-11.00
3. Electronic voting machines
Robert Krimmer (University Vienna): Electronic voting machines in comparative perspective
Sandeep Shastri (International Academy for Creative Teaching, Bangalore, India): Electronic voting machines in India

4. Internet-voting
11.00-13.00
Fernando Mendez (Center on Direct Democracy, Switzerland):Political experimentation using ICTs in Europe: Successes and failures in the roll-out of e-voting
Josep Reniu (University of Barcelona): E-voting: do we really need it?
14.00-16.00
R. Michael Alvarez (California Institute of Technology, USA) Thad E. Hall (University of Utah, USA): Internet Voting in the Estonian Context
Chantal Enguehard, Prof. (University of Nantes, France): Transparency in Electronic Voting : the Great Challenge

5. E-information
16.00-18.00
Kimmo Grönlund (Abo Academy, Finland): The Internet and Political Information
Belén Amadeo (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina): Online government communication in Argentina

Thursday 24.1.2008

9.00-11.00
Thomas Zittel (University of Mannheim, Germany): Lost in Technology? Political Parties and Online Campaigning in the German 2005 Parliamentary Elections
Javier Lorenzo Rodriguez, Prof (University Carlos III, Madrid, Spain): Electoral campaigns. Spain and Italy

6. E-participation and E-strategies
11.00-13.00
Kemi Ogunsola (University of Ibadan, Nigeria): Prospects and Challenges to e-Participation in Nigeria
Rosanna De Rosa/Fortunato Musella (University of Naples Federico II, Italy): Financing the e-democracy initiatives at the local level: national visions and subnational plans
14.00-16.00
Wolfgang Drechsler, Prof. (University Tartu, Estonia): Cyber Wars. Russia and Estonia
Anatoly Kulik (Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia): When Government Doesn't Want to Make Digital: Case of Russia
16.00-18.00
Conclusion: Future Agenda

Friday 25.1.2008

Excursion to Robben Island

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