Can Social Media be a Tool for Participatory Governance in Slovak Municipalities ?

Svidroňová Mária Murray, Kaščáková Alena and Vrbičanová Veronika
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Svidroňová Mária Murray: Department of Public Economics and Regional Development, Matej Bel University,Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Kaščáková Alena: Department of Public Economics and Regional Development, Matej Bel University,Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Vrbičanová Veronika: Department of Public Economics and Regional Development, Matej Bel University,Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy, 2018, vol. 11, issue 2, 81-101

Abstract: This paper presents the first findings of research that focused on the use of social media by Slovak regional towns. Social media, namely Facebook, are considered a powerful tool for various public administration activities that do not relate only to informing citizens, but also having them participate in decision-making and municipality governance. Th e paper points out the ways of social media usage by selected municipalities. Th e research was carried out in the months of February and March 2018 using a special tool for analyzing Facebook pages called Quintly and a questionnaire survey among the employees of the municipalities. Th e results indicate that municipalities use Facebook mainly for ex-ante informing and for asking citizens to vote in various competitions that can help the local government to gain funding for some public services. Calling for participation in decision-making is very limited. Th e paper also shows a comparative perspective that can be used by municipalities but also by other local or even national governments to work further with Facebook and adopt a social media use strategy.

Keywords: participatory governance; e-participation; social networks; social media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:njopap:v:11:y:2018:i:2:p:81-101:n:4

DOI: 10.2478/nispa-2018-0014

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