Johannes Bhanye, CASAS’ member, has published a book chapter with Ruvimbo Shayamunda.
Abstract: In recent years, governments worldwide have been exploring ways to enhance their interactions with citizens, improve public participation, increase transparency, and ensure accountability in delivering public services. Civic tech, encompassing various digital tools and platforms, has emerged as a transformative force in facilitating government–citizen interactions. Drawing from existing literature and case studies, this chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of civic tech in fostering transparent and accountable governance. It explores the diverse applications of civic tech, ranging from e-participation platforms and open data initiatives to crowdsourcing and collaborative governance. This chapter examines the impact of these technologies on enhancing citizen engagement, promoting transparency, and strengthening accountability mechanisms. Further, the chapter highlights opportunities and challenges associated with leveraging digital technologies in government–civic interactions. It highlights the potential benefits of civic tech, such as increased citizen empowerment, improved service delivery, and better policy outcomes. Additionally, it discusses the key challenges, including issues of accessibility, data privacy, the digital divide, and the potential for technological exclusion. The chapter offers insights and recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers leveraging digital technologies to bridge the gap between government and citizens. It demonstrates the importance of fostering an inclusive and participatory digital ecosystem to realise the full potential of civic tech for transparent and accountable governance in the digital era.
Read the full chapter here: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-75079-3_5
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CASAS
The Collective of Agrarian Scholar-Activists from the Global South (CASAS) is a community of Scholar-Activists working in critical agrarian studies.