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Interview with Alexander Trechsel: States should do more to develop electronic democracy

Governments and public authorities are gradually developing a presence on the Internet. However, the services they offer remain very limited, and the risk of a digital divide certainly exists. Alexander Trechsel, a Swiss political scientist, says that this divide relates not only to difficulties in accessing the Internet, which are now being overcome, but also to the education of citizens, in particular.

Interview, 18 May 2004

Question: What is the current position in Europe in respect of the modernisation of public administration and what is known as e-government, meaning the provision of services and links between citizens and government on the Internet?

Alexandre Trechsel: Studies carried out in Europe show that European governments in general have provided more services for businesses than for their fellow citizens. In the latter sphere, much remains to be done. It has also been demonstrated that there are wide differences between one European country and another, although all EU member states' governments already have a Web presence.

It is a certain fact that the differences between Council of Europe member states are even wider. Governments seem to give priority to providing information to their citizens, while the other possible applications, including interactive communication and transactions, remain very much underdeveloped. Some interesting developments have nevertheless occurred, including pilot projects carried out in the UK and Switzerland, where electronic voting has been tested in local elections and referendums.

Question: Are citizens with Internet access responding to governments' efforts? Which are the most widespread uses?

Alexandre Trechsel : While it is relatively easy to study what is available on line, it is far more complex to grasp the use to which it is being put. Insufficient information is available. It is nevertheless clear that, when certain uses are made possible, advantage is taken of them. 30% of the electorate, for example, used the e-voting facility recently provided by the municipality of Carouge, in Switzerland, for a referendum. E-voting may have a positive effect on voter turnout, if it is accompanied by other measures, and it could indubitably have a multiplying effect.

Few people currently visit the discussion forums where citizens can express their views about political matters. The integral approach which would enable citizens to obtain information, discuss an issue and cast a vote is rarely adopted. If a more integrated approach were to be taken, the results would certainly be much better.

Question: The "democratic promise" of information and communication technologies still finds an obstacle in its way: inequality of access to the Internet. Do you think that politicians have got the measure of this problem?

Alexandre Trechsel : I think that governments are aware that there is a digital divide, not only in Europe between the Nordic and southern countries, but also within our societies, where some groups have access to the Internet while others do not. Ultimately, in my view, this inequality will diminish, as it has already in the Nordic countries. Internet access is not, however, the only problem which arises, for the inequalities in terms of education which exist within European societies could also be structurally reproduced. When the private sector takes no interest in those segments of society which are not very profitable, states must meet the needs of these less privileged groups.