Citizenscape a product by Public-i Citizenscape a product by Public-i | Presented to Client x

1

Civic Architecture for Cyberspace

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

public-i.info/citizenscape

When does participation become democratic participation?

public-i.info/citizenscape

The democratic question….. Because people are talking…….. they are just not talking to us…….

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/31/top-

social-media-sites-of-2008-facebook-still-rising/

International growth of social media usage

With social media as the fastest growing trend

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

And some Swedish facts

91% of the Swedes between 16-75 years use the Internet

Almost everyone (99%) between 16 and 30 years uses the Internet

89% have Internet access at home

There are 3 million Swedish people on Facebook

Citizenscape a product by Public-i 6

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

We need to balance the tensions

Offline Online

Consultation

Direct Democracy

Involvement

Communication

Representative Democracy

Control

Old web v. New web

Collaboration/

XML

Presentation /

HTML

Engagement Content

Communities Websites

Widgets Portals

Old eGov Gov 2.0

From a presentation by http://dontapscott.com/

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

Democracy vs Social Web

Malleable

Identity

Authenticated

identity

User generated

content

Broadcast

message

Co-production Representatives

Democracy Social Web

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

public-i.info/citizenscape

How do we reconcile these tensions?

The new social web is an environment

superbly suited to Participatory Design:

Co-creation

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

Does Local Government need to respond?

Democratic deficit is growing across Europe – and democracy needs to change

Democracy needs to happen where the people are – it can’t happen in isolation

You have to start somewhere – and at least these people are already participating in something

Online is a growing trend and if we take a medium to long term view it is essential that Local Government has a clear role on the web

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

The democratic question…..

Social websites are profoundly different to most government spaces…….

….and so is democracy….

…..we can’t make a decision on the basis of how many people

join a facebook group

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

public-i.info/citizenscape

In democracy - identity matters

You’ll have seen this before…..

But it makes an important point

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

public-i.info/citizenscape

Process is established

http://www.harringayonline.com/ http://www.stopheathrowexpansion.com/

Because social media is already used…

…by councils and communities

…to communicate and campaign

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

public-i.info/citizenscape

And there is a role for representatives

By harnessing the potential of social media

We need to use tools like forums and petitions which

can transition people from informal to formal

Social web Government

News and social

networking sites

Council managed

services

Informal

social

Informal

civic

Formal

consultation

Formal

democratic

Civic

Space

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

What’s special about Sweden?

Most of the population are online – and its not just young people

High levels of formal and informal social capital – you want to solve your problems within the system

Pirate Party: Sweden is the only EU country to both create and realise a new, digitally native political party.

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

The Pirate Party – a digitally native political movement

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

Annotated graph showing

changes in membership count

during the first four years of the

Swedish Pirate Party

* Police raid on The Pirate Bay

servers

** 2006 general election

*** FRA legislation is passed by

the riksdag

**** Events related to the trial of

the founders of The Pirate Bay

Sharp declines can be attributed

to a one year renewal period,

causing inactive members to be

automatically removed

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate_Party_%28Sweden%29)

Imagine a Virtual Town Hall

A permanent civic space which will provide an online space for democratic activity

Manage identity within this space

Somewhere where citizens can take an equal part in shaping the outcomes of their engagement: a co-created space

Not a website – a web space which brings in content from the existing social web and

connects it with democratic activities and outcomes

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

Case Studies

EU research project UK pilot

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

So how we respond?

We concentrate on what we are good at – councils are not social spaces so don’t try to be – no-one wants to be your friend

Listen – the conversation is already happening – you just need to find it

Provide the right support – and leave the content to the citizens

Organise geographically – not institutionally

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

And how does Government need to change?

Ensure that 'Local' is user defined – its not about you!

Build an environment for co-creation

Unlock the potential within Councils - trust officers to engage

Create the idea of Councillor 2.0

Change gears to work at a speed closer to that of the internet: this means taking risks

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

How do we build this?

Do not compromise on democratic principles - accountability is essential even if its not web 2.0 friendly in terms of identity

Build an idea of better citizens - and help people to embrace this

Build the spaces which are needed to enable this to happen

Build beyond the next trend: think of Civic Architecture

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i

Citizenscape a product by Public-i Citizenscape a product by Public-i | Presented to Client x

28

Thank you for your time

……and more importantly….what do you think???

Catherine.Howe@public-i.info

Curiouscatherine.wordpress.com www.public-i.info

Presented by Catherine Howe, Chief Executive Public-i