How ICTs Shape the Relationship Between the State and the Citizens: Exploring New Paradigms Between Civic Engagement and Social Innovation

Abstract

The paper investigates the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in enabling social innovation and civic engagement. The purpose is to advance a typology for better understanding whether such a phenomenon might contribute to a paradigmatic shift in the relationship between the governments or the administrations and citizens. This framework is set out is based on the review of recent literature on social innovation and ICTs, studying the relationships between government and citizens emerging from 41 cases. The analysis highlights how ICTs underpin innovation in civic engagement initiatives in two main ways: 1) by modernising existing processes and 2) by integrating new services.