So much e-participation. But how much e-democracy?

Roberto Zarro wrote about the seminar “E-democracy 2.0: Institutions, citizens and new networks: a potential lexicon” which has been organised by Emilia-Romagna Region, with the partnership of PEP-NET and the scientific collaboration of the University of Bergamo. His summary is definitely worth a read!

One of his interesting points concerned the (lack of) speed of public institutions: “Common sense is full of sentences highlighting the importance to be slow to make wise choices. So, if there are no doubts about that, and if it’s also undeniable the idea that institutions could never win the “speed race” against web 2.0 tool, maybe the institutions could play a new role injecting slowness and “stickiness” in the digital arteries. Should they do so, maybe sometime the “all and now” rule could be defeated by the “who goes slow, goes safe and far” rule. “

Read the full article here