ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on whether local-government initiatives to provide a virtual public sphere have functioned as a tool for people-centred governance. More specifically, the chapter discusses the results of a comparative study of all the online forums that have been implemented on loca-government websites in Sweden. There are two main arguments that inform the study. First, the chances are higher that information technology in the form of, for example, online forums will have democratic effects in situations where they are used in connection with existing political institutions such as local government (Buchstein 1997). Second, this research on virtual political public spheres is grounded on very concrete and factual experiences in contrast to more theoretical discussions (Brothers 1999, Buchstein 1997). As a consequence, we are in a position to determine the actual use of online forums and reflect on their value.
