Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Are Public Officials Obstacles To Citizen-Centered E-Government? An Examination Of Municipal Administrators’ Motivations And Actions, Stephen Kwamena Aikens, Dale Krane

Public Administration Faculty Publications

This study investigates why municipal officials have not fully taken advantage of the interactive features of the Internet to bring citizens closer to their governments. Studies show that although the Internet has great potential to improve government–citizen relations, many governments at all levels have not taken advantage of this potential to improve Web site deliberative features to enhance online citizen participation in the policy process. Based on the data analysis from a survey of local government chief administrative officers in five Midwestern states, the authors find evidence that city officials have not taken advantage of the Internet to bring citizens …