De Cindio F., Di Loreto I., Peraboni C. (2008). “Outlining an e-Participation Environment”. In “Electronic Government: Proceedings of ongoing research and projects of EGOV 08 7th International Conference, EGOV 2008", E. Ferro, H. Jochen Scholl, and M. A. Wimmer (Ed.). Linz, Schriftenreihe Informatik 27: Trauner Druck.

Traditionally, the communication modality used in representative democracy is broadcasting from public institutions (governments and parliaments) to citizens: TV and newspaper interviews, information publishing in institutional websites, and the like. However this modality fails in opening a dialogue with citizens.

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can provide a support for local government’s websites that need to create a bidirectional communication environment, e.g. to listen citizens’ opinions before making decisions.

This paper deals with the design, implementation, and initial field-testing of an integrated communication and participation software platform, designed to support dialogue and citizens’ involvement in policy making processes.