Designing Web Technologies for Local Governance Reform: Good Management or Good Democracy?

Abstract

This article examines the extent to which innovative applications of Web technology might advance local governance reform. Synthesizing theories from communications, public policy, urban political science, and political philosophy, it develops a theoretical framework for local governance reform that emphasizes two dimensions: entrepreneurial (good management) versus participatory (good democracy). The entrepreneurial model envisions the city primarily as a local service provider, while the participatory model stresses the civic character of cities. A structured content analysis of 270 municipal Web sites in California is then analyzed to examine the extent to which applications of Internet technology support these models of reform. We conclude that most municipal Web sites lack a clear mission and provide few of the features that might effect meaningful improvements to local governance. The few that promote a particular approach appear more likely to support an entrepreneurial than a participatory model of reform. Only a few exemplary sites provide a rich array of information and structure communications channels in a fashion that might improve democratic processes.