E-Democracy and Citizens'participation in Sub-Saharan Africa : Empowering Communities to Action through Information and Communication Technologies

For decades, poor governance and governance systems have hindered the political and economic development of third world countries. The primary concern among researchers is how power is exercised in the decision-making process. For instance, how are citizens given voice? How are institutions being held accountable for complying with the rules and regulations set forth in policy? The proliferation and the exponential use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by citizens of developing nations have help to reinvigorate participatory democracy. This is slowly moving from the realm of hypothetical hopes and fears to the realm of practical experience. However, there is a need to understand the factors that compel or impede different behavioral attitudes towards leveraging these advancing technologies to strengthen democratic practices. This book explores the possibility for developing countries to reclaim local democracy through ICTs.