MP Transparency, Communication Links and Social Media: A Comparative Assessment of 184 Parliamentary Websites

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

12-2013

Abstract

Parliamentary websites (PWs) can potentially enhance the quality of government by providing information and communication links that stimulate political awareness, deliberation and participation. This article focuses on two particular uses of PWs that can facilitate communication between constituents and their Members of Parliament: provision of MP contact and background information; and links to social media. Through a seminal empirical examination of all 184 functioning lower house and unicameral PWs around the world, this study found that although PWs in wealthy democracies generally provide more MP information, the majority of PWs are deficient in providing basic MP information to citizens and utilizing linkages to social media. By contrast, some non-democratic states and newly democratized countries, especially those with compulsory voting, display a relatively high level of MP transparency and social media connectivity.

Keywords

communication, compulsory voting, democracy, e-governance, Members of Parliament, parliamentary websites, parliaments, social media, transparency

Discipline

Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social Influence and Political Communication | Social Media

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Journal of Legislative Studies

Volume

19

Issue

4

First Page

526

Last Page

545

ISSN

1357-2334

Identifier

10.1080/13572334.2013.811940

Publisher

Taylor & Francis (Routledge): SSH Titles

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/13572334.2013.811940

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