Understanding E-government in Europe

This book charts, explains and assesses the challenges that governments face and how various factors play a role before we can even begin to speak of successful transferral to e-government. Presenting a multi-disciplinary approach, it analyses a range of challenges spanning from those of a technolog [...]
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This book charts, explains and assesses the challenges that governments face and how various factors play a role before we can even begin to speak of successful transferral to e-government. Presenting a multi-disciplinary approach, it analyses a range of challenges spanning from those of a technological and managerial nature to those of a more political and legal nature. It brings together a wide range of divergent views to provide a coherent and convincing explanation of the challenges and difficulties experienced. The authors examine and critique the central policies at governmental and organisational levels and analyse the following challenges faced by e-government, its implementers and its users in all spheres: Is society ready for e-government? How is society being informed/trained to cope? What implications does e-government have to the power/democracy relationship? Is the technology right for e-government? What is needed to ensure government services are delivered optimally? How is e-government perceived in the media? How are the sensitive issues of identity, privacy and social inclusion dealt with?How is the issue of safety dealt with when one considers the threats of activism, cyberterrorism, and biometrics? This comprehensive text will be of interest to students and scholars of public policy, politics, media and communication studies, sociology, information and communications technologies and management, and European studies, as well as practitioners and policy-makers in regional, national, and transnational governance, reform and innovation.