Title: Open source software movement in the French central and local government: a retrospective and prospective exploratory study

Authors: Robert Deller, Veronique Guilloux

Addresses: University of Maryland/University College, Institute of Government Business Services, USA. ' Master International Management, Universite Paris 12, 61 av du general de gaulle, 94 010 Creteil cedex, France

Abstract: As one of Europe|s leaders in modernising government through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), France offers an opportunity to investigate how the use of Open Source software contributes to the process of improving government performance. This paper examines the extent to which the French government accepts Open Source solutions as part of its use of ICT to support e-democracy through government operations. This study bases its investigation on interviews of more than 100 program and ICT officials responsible for running or supporting government programs in France.

Keywords: France; open source software; government modernisation; e-democracy; electronic democracy; French government; central government; local government; ICT; information technology; communications.

DOI: 10.1504/IJED.2008.021275

International Journal of Electronic Democracy, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.1 - 13

Published online: 16 Nov 2008 *