Does E-governance Matter for Political Modernization: An Empirical Study from 2003 to 2014

• Main Authors: Shou-Zhi Xia, 夏守智
• Other Authors: Hao-Lin Yuan
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/02365287034325074601

碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 國家政策與公共事務研究所 === 105 === This study aims to test whether the development of E-governance has an impact on political modernization in the world. Specifically, there are three main research questions of this article. First, to what extent E-governance matters for political modernization around the world? Second, is there any difference when we consider different factors’ influence on political modernization? Third, what is the distinction among different regions when considering the effect of E-governance on political modernization? E-governance can be operated to three factors, “open data”, “online service”, and “E-participation”; political modernization can also be operated to three factors that are “government’s transparency”, “offline political participation”, and “the level of liberty”. Using the second-hand data from United Nations’ database, Transparency International, and V-democracy, this study draws such conclusions. 1. E-governance has a positive impact on political modernization across the world. 2. Open data and online service have a positive impact on government’s transparency; open data and E-participation have a positive impact on offline political participation and the level of liberty. 3. There are many distinctions from region to region when considering the E-governance’s influence on political modernization around the world. To begin with, the impact of open data and online service on government’s transparency in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia is more noticeable than other regions. The impact of open data and online service is at the lowest level in Western countries. In addition, the influence of open data and E-participation on people’s offline political participation is more obvious in Asia and Latin America than other regions. The impact of open data and E-participation on offline political participation is also at the lowest level in Western countries based on relative indicators. In the end, open data’s and E-participation’s influence on the degree of liberty is more noticeable in Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America than other regions. The impact of open data and E-participation in Africa is not very significant. And the impact of open data and E-participation on the level of liberty is at the lowest level in Western countries. Overall, we can confirm the influence of E-governance on political modernization even though there are many distinctions when we consider the specific impact of different elements and the impact in various regions. At such background, it is a wise choice for every government to try to improve the quality of E-governance.