E-participation in Russia driven by centralization: monitoring data 2020-2023

Abstract

The article presents the generalized results of an empirical monitoring study of initiative channels of electronic participation at the regional and municipal levels. The study was conducted according to the author's methodology for four years (from 2020 to 2023). As part of the monitoring, the channels of electronic participation of the six most common types created by the authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the administrations of cities-regional centers were identified and evaluated. The main conclusion drawn from the results of the analysis is that the authorities of the regions and LSGs made different management decisions regarding their own channels of electronic participation. These channels found themselves in a situation of duplication with a single federal resource introduced in 2021 - the Feedback Platform. One part of the regions abandoned their own channels and closed them. The other part of the regions continued to maintain their efficiency and took various steps to adapt them to the new realities. The different institutional models of e-participation that have emerged as a result of the decisions made have yet to be explored.