E-Democracy, E-Participation

Within the curriculum of "Governo Digitale" (Digital Government), the Course will provide the students with a global picture of concepts, methods and technological tools, as well as the practices that are important, from different points of views (information, consultation, policy making involvement), in favourising citizens participation to government activities and new form of democracy in the digital era. On one side, the Course will analyse the impact of the new technologies on the society as a whole (economy, culture, health, etc.) and, because of that, on the political and institutional system. On the other side, the Course will study thoroughly the problem if the digital democracy could strengthen the representative democracy or if they are in conflict relations. The Course is oriented to support the first hypothesis (strengthening) and will demostrate it on academic basis.

The course aims to provide an in-depth knowledge of the phenomenon characterising the contemporary world, that is the imposing presence of new technologies. This knowledge should allow the understanding of the future consequences in the evolution of the modern democracies. As a result the students should be able to feel actors and not onlookers of the events in progress in this field.