What the Turkish parliamentary web site offers to citizens in terms of e-participation: A content analysis

Abstract

ICTs today have a great impact on the parliamentary democracy. With the advent of the Internet, ICTs have become more than a tool enabling more efficient and rational internal operations of the parliament; they now have the power to transform the relationship between the parliament and the citizens. In this context, this article aims to examine the TGNA's Web site in terms of the e-participation opportunities offered to the citizens. The method of content analysis has been used for the examination of the TGNA's Web site. According to the results of the analysis, the content of the TGNA's Web site is poor in terms of e-participation. The most important reason for the poor e-participation content of the TNGA's Web site is the basic features of the Turkish political and administrative culture. Therefore, improving the e-participation content of the TGNA's Web site requires a mindset change on the part of both parliamentary administration and the citizens. © 2010-IOS Press and the authors.