Preparatory Policy Seminar
Helsinki, Finland

In advance of the International IDEA Democracy Forum 2001, Finland's Department for International Development Co-operation hosted a preparatory policy-seminar to discuss and exchange policy initiatives on the subject toward the formulation of recommendations to be presented at the Democracy Forum in June. Participating in the policy seminar were International IDEA member states representatives and selected researchers in the field.

Democracy Forum Policy Seminar
Helsinki, Finland
2 - 3 April 2001

• Definition of Roles
• Participant List
• Logistical Information
• Full Agenda
• Discussion Paper
• Private Discussions Area
• Registration for Private Discussions

Context

To fully realize the potential of present and future Internet tools to increase public participation in government, evolution toward interaction is essential.
However, governments do have a special duty to ensure broad access to formal participatory events. Therefore, online interactive events geared toward the general public should supplement corresponding opportunities that are available to all regardless of their knowledge of or access to the Internet. "E-democracy", say proponents, has the potential of transforming passive relationships between citizens and the government into active relationships and developing citizen-to-citizen interaction on important public issues.

Some of the democratizing aspects of the Internet mentioned the most are: access, dialogue and knowledge capital. With relevant information, ability to link up with one another, and the continuous improvement of skills through distance learning, 21st century citizens are expected to be more interactive horizontally among themselves and vertically with governments and civic organizations. It is within the context of electronic free assembly and association that citizens may gain new opportunities for participation in politics, governance and society.

The current processes of 'government online' (e-government) or electronic democracy (e-democracy) are no doubt creating new and vigorous methods for making information on government activities available like never before. Focusing on the elements of democracy that occur between election days, we are experiencing a convergence of democratic institutions and processes with the Internet. Where the existing political institutions are partly viewed as remote and unresponsive, the online culture offers the means for individuals to have a genuine say in the decisions that affect their lives.

Key Questions for Democracy

Clearly, the IT revolution brings with it new opportunities at not only the political level, but also at the economic and social levels. Initial trends show countries with a high adoption rate of the new technology experiencing faster and higher levels of economic growth. Within the social context, people in diaspora and similar situations, especially if they are in technologically advanced countries, are better able to link up with their relatives and fellow citizens all over the world. One must bear in mind, however, that there may be a democracy deficit looming whereby the political sphere has become less powerful than the economic sphere, where the power balance is tipping towards non-elected multinational corporations, and where information is increasingly controlled through fewer media channels. Moreover, the digital divide threatens to make e-democracy available only to the privileged members of society, thereby further weakening the voices of governments in less equipped countries - the poor and minorities.

The dramatic changes taking place in the development of information technologies will have deep impacts on societies and human behavior. Some of these trends were captured in the UNDP Human Development Report of 1999. Professor Pippa Norris, in her recent book, has indicated three challenges. The first is a "global divide" (inequalities in the diffusion of technology between nations). The second a "social divide" (inequalities in access and diffusion between social groups within nations); and the third a disturbing "democratic divide" between those who do and do not use the political resources available on the Internet.

The following four key questions for both the International IDEA Democracy Forum 2001 in June and the preparatory seminar in April will therefore form the focus of the analyses, discussions and recommendations:

• Will information technology strengthen democracy by providing a powerful new force to facilitate public participation, communication and representation - or will it reinforce the existing gaps between the technology rich and poor?
  
• What are the likely impacts of information technology on the core values, principles, institutions and processes of democracy?
• What new policies and legal frameworks are required from governments and international institutions/organizations to ensure that the positive benefits of new technology reach all countries and citizens in a sustainable manner and that the negative effects are moderated?
• What economic dividends will accrue from the widespread adoption of this technology and how and to what areas of development should these be devoted?

Seminar Objectives

Several governments, especially those in developed countries, regional and international organizations such as the EU, World bank, UNDP are currently developing policy initiatives and strategies for dealing with the economic and political implications brought about by the ICT phenomenon. It is the plan, at this stage, to expose the participants of the Democracy Forum 2001 to some of these policy initiatives as part of information sharing.

More concretely, the seminar, through intensive policy-oriented discussions on the subject of the Forum, aimed to provide International IDEA participants with the opportunity to:

• Formulate recommendations for consideration at the Forum 2001 and generate project ideas to be followed through in the course of International IDEA's work;
• Disseminate information on current policies and legislation, which have resulted from the booming effects of ICTs on democratic governance;
• Exchange information on policy initiatives by leading ICT companies, governments and international organizations and share other experiences on various issues of democracy and ICT;
• Propose policy guidelines from which countries and others can reflect and find inspiration; and
• Identify common priority areas for both discussion and future follow up by International IDEA as a service to its members.

Outputs

Resulting from the seminar, a policy brief will be prepared for the Democracy Forum containing:

• The key policy issues discussed,
• The specific recommendations on standards and codes of conduct regarding democracy and ICT,
• Proposals for actions and where necessary, recommendations for further research,
• Increase attention and focus on the impact of ICT on democratic values, principles, institutions and decision-making processes.

The findings of the Forum will directly strengthen ongoing work of International International IDEA and others working in the areas of elections and technology, media and elections, functioning of political parties, support for civil society and women in parliament, democracy at a local level, etc.