Admittedly, developing country governments have been using IT for more than 40 years. So, what is new about e-governance? What's new is that -- as an ardent exponent of e-governance thinking Richard Heeks puts -- we are moving on from IT to ICTs and from IT to IS. The old model was one of information technology (IT) automating the internal workings of government by processing data. The new model is one of information and communication technologies (ICTs) supporting and transforming the external workings of governance by processing and communicating data.
The old model also held information technology isolated from the mainstream of reform, or held IT as the objective of reform but the new model brings information systems (IS) to the heart of reform. In practice, this means two things:
A central role for ICTs: as governance becomes - and becomes recognized as even more information-intensive, ICTs become an essential part of more and more governance initiatives. ICTs are also recognized as a key lever to change. They are no longer isolated on the sidelines.
An integrated role for ICTs: e-governance means using ICTs as servants to the master of good governance. ICTs are no longer seen as an end in themselves and they are seen to work only as part of a wider systematic 'package'.
Overall, then, e-governance is the ICT-enabled route to achieving good governance. We might even prefer to think of it as 'i-governance' -- integrated governance -- since it integrates both the processing and communication technologies; and since it integrates people, processes, information, and technology in the service of governance initiatives.
In simple terms, Electronic Governance is defined by scholars as giving citizens the choice of when and where they access government information and services. Putting the citizen at the centre of government means taking a delivery channel view. This would mean using more and more of Electronics & Information Technology in many of the government functions. In the current literature, most definitions of e-governance are loaded with its advantageous or virtuous connotations.
For example, e-governance is considered a system of governance that represents 'good governance', that works better and costs less, that enhances accountability and responsiveness, that promotes civil society, and that is moral and transparent.
E-Governance should be seen -- as elaborated by Heeks -- to encompass all ICTs, but the key innovation is computer networks -- from intranets to the Internet -- creating a wealth of new digital connections:
- Connections within government - permitting 'joined-up thinking'.
- Connections between government and NGOs/citizens - strengthening accountability.
- Connections between government and business/citizens - transforming service delivery.
- Connections within and between NGOs - supporting learning and concerted action.
- Connections within and between communities - building social and economic development.
Widespread global acceptance of electronic governance bears testimony to the observation that e-governance has rocked the governing systems in the world to a degree. As a matter of fact, it has revolutionized the systems of government service delivery and the developed states have made strides in adopting this technology driven mechanism. Countries such as USA, UK, Canada, France and such other economically dominant ones are about to have e-governance in a full fledged manner. Many other countries are in hot pursuit.
Developing countries are not lagging far behind given their capacity. Bangladesh, too, has taken positives steps in this direction. Though Bangladesh has many other problems of overriding importance, its journey has started with due emphasis on e-governance at the state level. But making the facilities of e-governance accessible to all strata of people remains a critical problem for Bangladesh because the state is ill equipped to make it happen sooner rather than later.
Notably, however, production dimension of e-governance has been embraced really quickly by many a state but its informating aspect is being neglected even in the cradles of democracy. Seemingly, the true essence of e-governance is yet to be grasped well even by the champions. Sustained campaigns spearheaded by the e-governance exponents and the civil societies are, however, there to press home the message.
Electronic governance depends on the use of information technology (IT) by the general population. The cyber-pessimists, however, believe that the use of IT in governance may worsen inequality in access to government services due to the lack of an adequate infrastructure, unequal ownership of computers, language constraints, and so on. There is also a concern that e-governance may disempower citizens by individualizing them, eroding their common bonds and endangering their privacy.
Anyway, e-governance promises a lot to better the service providing functions. It also augurs well for democracy as it has the makings of enhancing people's participation through widespread internet access. But the fear of digital-divide, that is, discrimination between the information rich and the information poor has made the situation rather complex. If the digital divide is negotiated well, e-governance -- because of its extensive facilitating dimensions -- has every chance to make the world a better place to live in.
The bottom line is that meteoric advancement of information technology has left us with no other option but to accept and absorb its varied ramifications. But, it will be a fallacy to think that e-governance is a mechanism to facilitate service provisions only. It is, in fact, a lot more than that. Its true significance lies in the proposition that it would pave the way for making people's choices more extensive and sophisticated, enhance people's participation in the spectrum of state policy making thereby giving democracy a better foundation.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Kazi S.M. Khasrul Alam Quddusi
Quelle/Source: The New Nation, 18.08.2006
