Measurement techniques for e-participation assessment: case of Russian e-petitions portal

Abstract

E-petition portals have started to play a significant role in political decision-making processes around the world. At the same time, e-petition portals have only recently appeared, and it is not obvious how to explain their impact in terms of traditional forms of decision making. This article describes the practical case of e-petition portal development in Russia. The study aimed at identifying the demand for an electronic petition portal in Russia in three main areas: the dynamics of the publication of initiatives across federal districts, citizens' discussions of the Russian e-petition portal on social media, and an analysis of the correlation between citizens' demand indicators and citizens' satisfaction with authorities' work and openness, as well as other economic indicators. The research led to conclusions about the existence of a relationship between the number of Internet users in the region and the activity of people in the region on the Russian e-petition portal.