ParlAmericas' Vision for Legislative Openness in a Digital Epoch: A Pathway for Deepening Democratic Engagement
About the ParlAmericas. Written on April, 2022
Introduction
The essence of the roadmap for legislative openness, as envisioned by ParlAmericas, lies in harnessing the power of digital transformation within parliamentary institutions. This vision emerged as a compelling force for change amidst the accelerated digital shift triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysing the roadmap’s future relevance necessitates the consideration of whether this trend will continue to hold its significance beyond the pandemic and how parliamentary institutions can sustain their engagement with digital transformation to facilitate legislative openness.
The Unravelling Power of Digital Transformation
The cornerstone of digital transformation, as espoused by ParlAmericas, transcends the mere transition from physical to virtual domains. The real essence lies in its potential for facilitating profound socio-political impacts, particularly within legislative contexts. By critically analysing the benefits that digital transformation can bring, we uncover its potential to facilitate and enhance citizen participation, a key aspect in strengthening democratic institutions.
This addresses the crucial issue of declining civic trust within political systems, a phenomenon prominently observed in regions such as Latin America. In offering a platform for citizen participation, digital transformation provides a robust tool to parliamentarians and legislative bodies to engage the public more closely with the legislative process. Therefore, the durability and longevity of digital transformation within parliaments are intrinsically tied to its recognised benefits, fostering a more participatory and representative democratic system.
Open Parliament Framework: A Dual-Faceted Approach
ParlAmericas' roadmap for open parliament proposes a dual-faceted approach, placing equal emphasis on both internal and external users. While the external users, primarily citizens and civil society organisations, require open data and channels for participation, the internal users, such as parliamentary staff and members, are poised to benefit significantly from these digital solutions.
An analytical gaze at this scenario unveils the critical question: how can we incentivise these external users to utilise the digital tools offered by parliaments efficiently? One strategy that ParlAmericas highlights is the concept of co-creation, involving active involvement from various stakeholders in designing and developing the digital platforms.
Moreover, the influence of social media in fostering engagement and disseminating information is also a critical aspect recognised by ParlAmericas. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok are instrumental in broadening the reach of parliamentary work and demystifying the mechanisms through which citizens can participate more actively in parliamentary processes.
Conclusion
In maintaining the momentum of digital transformation within legislative institutions, ParlAmericas posits the necessity of continuous dialogue among parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, international organisations, CSOs, academia, and journalists. Involving these stakeholders in the discussion process is paramount as they stand to gain from a legislative framework that promotes digital transformation, providing access to information and facilitating participation in parliamentary processes.
Instances of co-creation experiences in regions such as Chile, Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay, as mentioned in ParlAmericas' roadmap, serve as examples of this approach. These experiences illustrate a process involving issue identification, action development to address these issues, and drafting and consolidation of commitments, all powered by contributions from citizens and CSOs.
Ultimately, ParlAmericas' roadmap towards legislative openness serves as a blueprint for digital transformation. As we move forward, a key determinant of successful transformation will be the ability to embrace digital innovation, actively involve both internal and external users, and foster a culture of co-creation and participatory democracy.