POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DIGITAL GOVERNMENT
The purpose of this paper is to examine the current literature on digital government and to assess the political implications of the growth of e-government. No new data will be collected or analyzed in this report. Rather, it is the goal of this author to collect and summarize the existing data on the topic, in order to provide a single source for referencing that data. In addition to a summary of this existing data, the paper will conclude with an original analysis of the existing data.
The following literature review will present the political implications of digital government. An introduction to digital government will include a discussion of the possible pros and cons. The next section will include examples of uses and users of digital government, which adds emphasis to the claim that political implications of digital government will be profound. Information regarding other countries presents arguments for and against e-government. The final section will present characteristics that assist in the growth of e-government and this will be followed by a summary and conclusion.
Introduction to Digital Government With Pros & Cons
The Internet was invented by the Department of Defense in the 1960s, for use as a communication network for defense research. From 1990 to 1998, the number of computers that are attached to the internet grew from less than one million to around 30 million, with the use of network services from home and work increasing from 6% to 23% of individuals. The number of Internet users in the year 2000 was estimated at over 110 million (Ho, 2002).
This growth in Internet use included the development of e-commerce in the private sector which put pressure on the public sector to utilize electronic means of serving citizens. Thus, e-government or digital government was developed to provide public services to citizens and communities through the use ...