Interactivity and policy cycle within Electronic Participatory Budgeting: a comparative analysis

Abstract Participatory initiatives have increasingly used Information and Communication Technology, such as the Electronic Participatory Budgeting (ePB) to expand and improve participation. This research analyzes ePB platforms emphasizing interactivity aspects, as well as evaluating - in political terms - their functions regarding the dissemination of political information, sharing opinions, agenda-setting, and decision-making. This analysis examined the platforms’ tools types of interactivity based on two variables: the level of the receiver’s control and communication direction. The research identified ePB models and how the platforms’ functions are connected to each of them. The study also recognized in which phases of the decision-making process and the policy cycle the electronic participation is more likely to occur. Case studies in a comparative perspective were used to understand the variety of experiences of ePB.

摘要：参与式举措正愈发广泛地依托信息与通信技术（Information and Communication Technology），例如电子参与式预算（Electronic Participatory Budgeting，简称ePB），以拓展并优化公众参与路径。本研究围绕交互性维度对电子参与式预算平台展开分析，并从政治层面评估其在政治信息传播、观点分享、议程设置与决策制定等方面的功能。本分析基于接收者控制程度与传播方向两个变量，对平台的交互工具类型进行了考察。研究明确了电子参与式预算的各类模式，并厘清了平台功能与各模式间的关联逻辑。本研究同时识别出电子参与更易发生的决策流程与政策周期阶段。本研究采用比较视角下的案例研究法，以探析电子参与式预算的多元实践样态。