E-GOVERNANCE DEVELOPMENT AS A LEGITIMATION STRATEGY: A CONTENT ANALYSIS

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that high level of e-governance in authoritarian regimes is a way to legitimate the rulers. On the other hand, one of the important functions of e-governance is the provision of official information to the public and mass media. Using the cases of two states Kazakhstan and Russia, I show how legitimation claims are conveyed through the official governmental websites. This paper uses content analysis to assess what legitimation strategies are used by Kazakhstan and Russia. The findings confirm earlier researchers’ claims that all types of authoritarian regimes strive to demonstrate high sectoral performance. Stressing high economic development, praising the achievements for each ministry has become the way to demonstrate their legitimacy. In addition, both countries almost equally underscore their international engagement. Nationalism ideals are more specific to Russian government than to Kazakhstani. While Kazakhstani government is more prone to feature personalistic legitimacy claims.