Driver or passenger? An analysis of citizen-driven eGovernment

Abstract

eGovernment is often put forward as a transformation supporting empowerment and democracy, building on principles such as 'citizen-driven' and 'citizen-centered' development. In addition it is often symbolized by a technology-laden and romantic progressivism. In this article this picture is analyzed from the perspective of the ones supposed to put eGovernment into practice. A model to analyze our relation with technology laden governmental development is put forward. The results, resting on a large scale empirical study in a local municipality, show that a remarkably high number of civic servants (acting in their role as citizens) did not see any possibility to change the transformation if they thought it not to serve the citizens. Implying that there is still a long way to go to live up to such beautiful proclamations, and also highlights the question whether 'citizen-driven eGovernment' is an accurate framing? © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2008.