What Difference could E-governance make? Fears, Aspirations and Theories

Abstract

What might be the consequences of significantly increased take-up of more sophisticated and recently developed e-governance systems across government? Will these tools sustain ‘better’ judgment and governance, by the standards and interests of any of the principal interests that shape policy processes? Is it meaningful even to ask whether they could ‘better’ support anything recognisable as ‘the public interest’? Broadly, there are four rival answers to this question on offer. Each can be read as one possible future scenario for understanding the potential impact of e-governance.