Opportunities and Differences of Open Government Data Policies in Europe

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of the Open Government paradigm$\$nconnecting it with the big political and social challenges of the$\$ntraditional democratic institutions. The recent crisis in the$\$nrepresentation of interests regarding in particular trade unions or$\$npolitical parties put in evidence the emerging role of the "Citizen-Consumer", thanks to the new possibilities offered by the web 2.0. A$\$nsimilar transformation of citizens behavior needs a revision of the$\$nculture of public administration from a closed and self-referential$\$nsystem to an open system able to adapt to the pressing bottom-up$\$nrequests of transparency, participation and collaboration.$\$nThe$\$nfollowing analysis, focused on the Open Data phenomenon from its$\$nbirth to the recent developments, tries to put in evidence the$\$ndifferences between some European countries, and the emerging$\$ngaps, using the neo-institutionalist approach.