|
This
paper discusses the potential of information and communication
technologies (ICTs) to help engage people in all parts of the political
process: obtaining information, engaging in deliberation and participating
in decision-making. It also discusses limitations or barriers to using
ICTs in these ways. Despite these limitations ICTs are likely to be
increasingly tried in the political process. It is therefore important
that we educate our young people for participation in an e-enabled
political process. The paper therefore reports on an educational project
that demonstrated using ICTs in the political process and introduced some
13-14 year olds to citizenship and electronic democracy, concentrating on
a local mayoral election. The responses of the participants raise
interesting issues about how to use ICTs in education and the
desirability, or otherwise, of electronic electioneering. The paper
contributes to our understanding and experience of citizenship education,
e-democracy and the use of ICTs in the political process.
Keywords:
e-democracy, e-government, e-electioneering, citizenship education |
