Why do nondemocratic regimes promote e‐participation? The case of Moscow's active citizen online voting platform

Abstract

Citizen online participation has become an increasingly important feature of policymaking in nondemocratic regimes. This article explores the question of why nondemocratic governments promote e‐participation tools. To address this question, this research examines the motives for the introduction of the Active Citizen e‐voting platform in Moscow through an in‐depth case study drawing on interviews and qualitative document analysis. The case study identifies a variety of objectives pursued by the Moscow city government with the promotion of e‐participation and relates them to three legitimation strategies, namely, input‐based legitimation, output‐based legitimation and discourse‐based legitimation. The results underscore how controlled e‐participation may combine different legitimation strategies without challenging the distribution of decision‐making power.

Problem complexity and narratives in Moscow's waste controversy

“…To identify policy narratives on waste management, we examined online texts. We selected online sources, because the Internet has become the most important space for public debate in Russia and is used by both government and oppositional actors to promote their positions (Etling et al., 2014; Gunitsky, 2015; Schlaufer, 2020; Soldatov & Borogan, 2015; Toepfl, 2012; Yagodin, 2014).…”

Narrative strategies in a nondemocratic setting: Moscow’s urban policy debates

“…Online spaces including blogs, online media, or social media have become important alternative sources of information for citizens (Etling et al, 2014;Yagodin, 2014). Governmental actors in authoritarian settings also increasingly use online resources to communicate with and mobilize citizens, and to promote policies (Åström et al, 2012;Göbel, 2013Göbel, , 2015Kornreich, 2019;Schlaufer, 2021;Toepfl, 2012Toepfl, , 2018.…”

Narratives in an authoritarian environment: Narrative strategies, plots, and characters in Moscow’s public transport reforms debate

“…The recent academic literature on the issue of policy processes in authoritarian settings shows that the Internet became a fruitful ground for the development of alternative opinions and participatory practices in these countries (Linde & Karlsson, 2013;Renz & Sullivan, 2013;Schlaufer, 2020;Toepfl, 2011). This is also the case for Russian competitive authoritarianism, where social media and blogs form the spaces where oppositional leaders can express their criticism of authorities, and where significant protest mobilization took place, with mass protests against the electoral frauds in 2011-2012 (Speiser et al, 2017).…”