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Beyond Usual Suspects? Inclusion and Influence of Non-State Actors in Online Public Consultations in Croatia

Author

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  • Igor Vidačak

    (Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

Abstract

Despite the increasing use of various e-democracy tools in shaping new policies, there is still a general lack of empirical studies on the influence of non-state actors in online public consultations. This article addresses this gap in the academic literature by focusing on the case of Croatia, which may have relevant broader practical and theoretical implications due to the legally binding rules of institutional responsiveness to individual policy inputs received during e-consultations and the growing interest of citizens and various interest groups to get engaged in this form of policy dialogue. Drawing on the novel data set that includes the responses of 39 government bodies to 51,250 policy inputs of interest groups and individual citizens to online consultations during the first three years since the launch of the government consultation platform, the paper seeks to analyse the influence of different types of non-state actors on the outcomes of government-led online public consultations. Contrary to general expectations about the predominance of more resourceful interest groups, it is argued that individual citizens exert a noticeable influence on the results of online policy consultations of Croatian government bodies. It is also claimed that the specific design and patterns of online public consultations, especially improved responsiveness of government bodies, contribute to the pluralisation of interests, equalizing political representation, and empowering individual citizens and other new actors, beyond traditional interest groups and “usual suspects” in national decision-making processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Igor Vidačak, 2022. "Beyond Usual Suspects? Inclusion and Influence of Non-State Actors in Online Public Consultations in Croatia," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:11:y:2022:i:10:p:436-:d:924668
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dür, Andreas & De Bièvre, Dirk, 2007. "The Question of Interest Group Influence," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(1), pages 1-12, May.
    2. Culpepper,Pepper D., 2011. "Quiet Politics and Business Power," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521118590, October.
    3. Rasmussen, Anne & Carroll, Brendan J., 2014. "Determinants of Upper-Class Dominance in the Heavenly Chorus: Lessons from European Union Online Consultations," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 44(2), pages 445-459, April.
    4. Culpepper,Pepper D., 2011. "Quiet Politics and Business Power," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521134132, October.
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