Title: Deliberative community networks for local governance

Authors: Fiorella De Cindio, Antonio De Marco, Philip Grew

Addresses: Universita degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Informatica e Comunicazione, via Comelico 39, 20135 Milan, Italy. ' Universita degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Informatica e Comunicazione, via Comelico 39, 20135 Milan, Italy. ' Universita degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Informatica e Comunicazione, via Comelico 39, 20135 Milan, Italy

Abstract: This paper describes Deliberative Community Networks (DCNs) as the evolution of the community networks of the 1990s. DCNs attempt to overcome the limitations of |traditional| community networks for involving citizens in decision-making processes. DCNs are designed to support local government actually committed to participatory policymaking. The paper outlines the design principles and logical architecture of the software platform we are developing. It describes the features of five deliberation modules and how the participatory process-building module structures deliberative work flow.

Keywords: deliberative community networks; DCNs; local governance; e-democracy; e-deliberation; decision making; e-participation; deliberative democracy; Agenda 21; electronic democracy; online participation; local government; participatory policymaking.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2007.014532

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2007 Vol.7 No.2, pp.108 - 121

Published online: 15 Jul 2007 *

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