A master thesis from Aalborg University
Digitisation & Participation - Defining Digital Democracy in Copenhagen
Author(s)
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-05-31
Pages
71 pages
Abstract
TLDR; This thesis is concerned with digitisation and democracy; specifically, transparency and civic participation in Copenhagen Municipality. The aim of the thesis is to develop a requirement specification for an online platform, that can aid citizens and authorities in the municipality with utilising their democratic rights. The perspective of democracy in Copenhagen Municipality varies depending on the actor observing it. We attempt to identify and create channels for participation that can be accessed by the actor in their preferred setting. To this end we explore democracy as a concept and in its historical context. This is supplemented with research on the effects of digitisation on society, so as to ascertain what challenges we face when translating democracy from analog to the digital world. Additionally, theories about participation, actor relations, and devices are utilised to frame our research in context of the thesis’ stated intent. Information gathered during desk research is complemented with fieldwork aimed at understanding relevant actors in the municipality, and these actors’ matters of concern with regards to the agency they are afforded as Copenhageners. The results of our fieldwork is collated in order to develop a requirement specification that reflects the identified matters of concern. We conclude on several features; relating to transparency, trust and communication, that can strengthen the individual’s agency in Copenhagen, but do not develop a working prototype, as this is beyond the scope of this thesis.
Documents
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