Dismantling Mutual Mistrust

@arnoutponsioen - Ministery of the InteriorHacking At Random 2009, 14 august 2009

eParticipation’s Challenge

Dismantling mutual Mistrust


Summary

1. Short history of eParticipation policy at BZK2. Personal Observations3. Challenges for the future

2


1. Short history of eParticipation in NL (1/2)

Development of citizen participation in the Netherlands

1970’s:consultation1980s/1990s: interactive policy making2000 onwards:

‘reverse participation’virtualisation => eParticipation



Development of eParticipation Policy at BZK

Early 2000se-skills, economic and social participation in society (Van Boxtel)democratic innovation/renewal (Pechtold)

Mid 2000sfinding solutions for social issues and improving service delivery (Bijleveld)eParticipation Summitbottom-up approachnetworkingeparticipatie.nl platformexperiments



Some experiments mid 2000s



www.watstemtmijnraad.nl



www.petities.nl



Digital Community Policeman



doemee.ikgaverder.nl


1. Short history of eParticipation (2/2)

Development of eParticipation policy at BZK

Early 2000sMid 2000sLate 2000s

7 new experiments: Digital Pioniers Programma



7 new experiments via Digital Pioniers

- verbeterdebuurt.nl- democratiespel.nl- openkamer.nl- polidocs.nl- OCO sterren version 2- ikregeer.nl API- HNS development environment

http://www.digitalepioniers.nl/(search for: ‘eParticipatie’)


1. Short history of eParticipation (2/2)

Development of eParticipation at BZK

Early 2000sMid 2000sLate 2000s

7 new experiments: Digital Pioniers Programma

facilitating and stimulating local governments: web 2.0 brigade, citizen participation lab

Citizenlink-programmeeParticipation Awardsupscaling and further development of some eParticipation experiments

Governement 2.0 Design contest: hulpbijditformulier.nl, jijendeoverheid.nlOpen data contest: datzouhandigzijn.nlFive government widgetsOverheid20.nl platform


2. Personal Observations (1/3)

• citizen’s willingsness for eParticipation is high (preferred channel!)• eParticipation modules on government websites is decreasing• Far from being business as usual• eParticipation is dependant on just 1 enthousiastic lower level civil

servant

• ‘safety’ issue popular• local level• high abstraction level or complex forms like laws or regulations• lower levels of participation (information, consultation)• advanced applications• ‘passive participation’ popular (low level involvement)• representativeness is a big concern



Current eParticipation’s reality:

• A lot of energy on both sides!– Many government initiatives

– Even more citizens’ initiatives

• two separate narcistic closed worlds– Mainly bonding, hardly any bridging:

– interaction between like-minded citizens (citizen’s initiatives)

– closed consultations (government’s initiatives)

• No reciprocity– no furtile dynamic co-creative dialogues between citizens and governments



Why?

• Unknown existence?• Unable to participate?• Not worth it because unsufficient real power-shifts• No wish nor need for eachother’s involvement

• Stereotypic mutual mistrust in both quality and quanity of participation of 'the other'


3. Challenges for the future (1/2)

So…?

• ICT’s are not the challenge• Trust in citizen participation in general is (cultural challenge)

How to do that?• Be reciprocal: give, receive and return!• Bond and Bridge!



What can governments do to build trust?

• Open your data• Open your processes (policy development, decisions)• Organise co-productive reflexivity about the new processes, roles,

etc.• Promote e-skills and e-awareness in your organisation• Invest in your external network

– truely listen, participate, stimulate, and include citizen's initiatives

• Make eParticipation worth it– offer real power-shifts

– follow citizen’s agenda



What can citizens do to build trust?

• Actively inform government about your activities, views, network• Make explicit what you expect from government (data, money,

expertise, time, etc.)• Bridge with other initiatives by citizens and government• Plug into pre-existing democratic intitutions• Don’t stop investing in society: start new initiatives, mobilize

people



What can hackers do to build trust?

• Surprise and confront government and citizens with concepts, prototypes, and examples (reflexivity)

• Use available data, and ask for data you need• Bridge: talk and co-produce with government and citizens• Join forces with other hackers• Be polite, positive and… patient• Start working for a government!


Concluding remarks…

• Trust requires reciprocity: give, receive and return• Innovation always comes from unexpected (re)combinations• Be polite, positive and patient• Have faith!


Some questions I have for you:

1. How can hackers help government and citizens with open data?2. How can hackers help government and citizens with interactivity?3. How can hackers help bridge between government and citizens?

4. What are the most crucial issues in the relation between trust, citizen participation and ICT´s?

5. What is the most promising role for governments in field of eParticipation6. What are the greates risks of hackers´ activities related to trust, open data

and interactivity?

http://trust20.ning.com

Thank you!@arnoutponsioen


Thank you!

@arnoutponsioen

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Dismantling Mutual Mistrust