Untangling the web between digital citizen empowerment, accountability and quality of participation experience for e-government: Lessons from India

In the digital era, governance is undergoing a transformation, moving state–citizen engagement into online realms, where citizens serve as users and collaborators in shaping services and policies. Empowering citizens to act as social innovators on issues affecting their lives and local communities is the key to facilitate this transition. As interactions between the state and citizens become more convenient, governments are increasingly focusing on digital citizen empowerment (DCE) to improve the life of their populace. Our study aims to understand the different dimensions of DCE and how it leads to better participation. It also aims to study the role of people's perception towards accountability mechanisms in place and how they can pave the way to enhanced participation behaviour. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study utilises structural equation modelling to examine the relation among e-participation, DCE, and public and social accountability. The results conceptualise DCE, identifying its four dimensions: emotional, cognitive, relational, and behavioural. Furthermore, it underscores the significance of citizens' perceptions of governmental and social accountability in fostering e-participation. These findings are subsequently validated through a focus group discussion involving specialists from relevant fields. The results indicate that behavioural empowerment stands out as the most crucial aspect of DCE and that DCE enhances the quality of participation, with accountability mechanisms playing a pivotal role in achieving this outcome. Additionally, the findings reveal public disenchantment with e-government initiatives due to perceived administrative unresponsiveness. By pinpointing specific dimensions of individual empowerment, this study provides insights for policymakers to deliver accountable e-government services that promote enhanced e-participation.