Features of the digital democracy development in Russian cities (on the example of St Petersburg)

Abstract

The digital transformation of government processes in the face of increasing strategic uncertainty and global risks has actualized the requests of citizens to optimize the activities of public authorities, create a secure digital environment and adhere to the principles of digital democracy, designed to ensure accountability and transparency in the activities of public authorities, improve the quality of decisions made at all levels, expand electronic participation of citizens. Being an integral part of the information society, e-democracy is the best way to influence the development of democratic institutions and processes, to consolidate various public policy actors in the political decision-making process. At the same time, as a result of digitalization, there is a reverse effect of the traditional relations system transformation between the state and the citizen, which can undermine the foundations of state security and violate the inalienable rights and freedoms of citizens. The article is devoted to identifying the features of the digital democracy development in modern Russia. Particular attention in the study is paid to the analysis of the theoretical foundations of e-democracy, the assessment of the e-democracy importance in the development of relations between the state and the citizen. Using the experience of St Petersburg digital development as an example, the authors analyze the advantages of digital services for the modern society development. Based on the study of the electronic voting system used in Russia, the authors discuss the prospects for the digital democracy development in the country. The main research questions are the following: What are the theoretical foundations of e-democracy? What is the significance of digital democracy for the development of relations between the state (public authorities) and the citizens? What opportunities and risks does e-democracy bring to modern society? What are the prospects for the development of digital democracy in Russia?