Lunch Talk: Abstruse Characteristics of People Participation

The Lunch Talk will take place on 31 October 2023 at 12pm CET. The speaker, Sharique Hassan Manazir, will provide thematic insights into people participation on a case from India. Jörg Pohle will moderate the event. This is an online-only event, which will be held in English. Our aim is to come together and exchange ideas in an inspiring digital lunch break.

Lunch Talk
Abstruse Characteristics of People Participation: An Analysis of the Smart City Campaign Over myGov Platform in India
by Sharique Hassan Manazir
Tuesday, 31 October 2023 | 12.00 – 1.00 pm
online only

In the realm of governance and public policy, the term “e-participation” has a longstanding presence in academic discourse. This concept owes its recognition to the pioneering work of scholars like Ann Macintosh and has even found its way into influential UN reports on e-governance. E-participation has steadily gained prominence around the globe, with various countries such as the US, UK, Australia and Germany releasing government portals for citizen engagement. However, it is essential to acknowledge that e-participation extends beyond surface-level interactions with government websites or mere improvements in their functionality.

One prominent challenge in understanding e-participation is its often-superficial approach, especially among practitioners. A similar limited perspective has given rise to a common conflation between the digital divide and digital inclusion. Furthermore, the sociological dimension of e-participation, which explores how individuals actively engage in the digital sphere to influence public policy formulation, remains underexplored within academic circles. In this talk, Sharique Hassan Manazir will talk about his recent study which analyses e-participation in four ways: e-governance platform analysis, government website content analysis, social media platform analysis, and government e-participation analysis.

The myGov portal was launched in India as a citizen engagement platform facilitating a two-way exchange of ideas between the government and its citizens. In his study, he evaluates e-participation in India through the public discourse in the myGov portal surrounding the Smart City Mission, a project launched to develop smart, citizen-friendly, and sustainable cities in India.

He found that e-participation is not significantly impacted by mobile connectivity, internet connectivity, or other infrastructural support, against common belief.

He will explain how digital exclusion could lead to limited involvement from different socio-economic groups. In reference to his study, he will underscore the critical importance of understanding and harnessing the potential of e-participation in shaping governance and public policy, not only in India but across the globe.

The talk will be based on a study recently published by the speaker. You can find the respective study here.

Speaker

Sharique Hassan Manazir, hailing from India, is a Policy Science researcher focusing on public policy formulation and the impact of digital governance platforms. His academic journey includes a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, where his research delved into the complexities of e-participation and its role in shaping public policy. Along with his independent research, he works at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business. In his current role, he spearheads capacity-building initiatives for government officials and elected representatives in India on Digital Governance and Policy Formulation. Beyond research, he actively contributes to academic affiliations and services, including his role as an Area Editor for the Data & Policy Journal. Sharique Hassan Manazir’s contributions to the field of policy science have left a significant mark in India and beyond, and his research continues to influence the domains of public policy and digital governance.

Participation

This lunch talk will be held online-only. If you would like to join the talk, please register using the form below. After registration, you will receive a Zoom-link the day before the event.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Daniel Pothmann: daniel.pothmann@hiig.de.

Bookings