"Shifting the Balance of Power? Information Society and its Impact on Trans-national and EU Governance"

Bugdahn, Sonja (2000) "Shifting the Balance of Power? Information Society and its Impact on Trans-national and EU Governance". In: UNSPECIFIED, Corfu, Greece.

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Abstract

This paper discusses some of the impacts the Internet has made so far on forms of various forms of transnational governance. Contrary to expectations, experience with new communication technologies on the local level have so far been disappointing. In my view, this can be explained by the fact that the use of ICT for institutions lies first and foremost in the enhancing of legitimacy. However, local government is usually legitimised by some form of elections. National and local bureaucracies, though more vulnerable in terms of legitimacy, are long-established institutions. By contrast, the legitimacy of many international forms of governance is increasingly contested. The European Union had already to change its policy following the Maastricht Crisis through the introduction of freedom of information legislation. Challenged by NGO coalitions which are empowered by the new ICTs, more and more international organisations seek now to increase procedural legitimacy by using the Internet for electronic consultation.

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