Why some governments are ‘less’ open: Sketching out Models of Information Management

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to consider why some national governments have been able to successfully take steps toward open government while others have not. In doing this it outlines two models of information management: a reactive model and a proactive model. Ultimately, it is found that governments following a reactive model, characterized by strong informational control and a lack of high-level political and bureaucratic support for open government, cannot fully or successfully realize open government.