Title: A unified framework for political parties to support e-democracy practices: the case of a Greek party

Authors: C. Bouras, E. Giannaka, Th. Karounos, A. Priftis, V. Poulopoulos, Th. Tsiatsos

Addresses: Research Academic Computer Technology Institute and Computer Engineering and Informatics Dept., University of Patras, Nikolaou Kazatzaki Str., Patras University Campus, 265 00, Rion, Greece. ' Research Academic Computer Technology Institute and Computer Engineering and Informatics Dept., University of Patras, Nikolaou Kazatzaki Str., Patras University Campus, 265 00, Rion, Greece. ' School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Network Management and Optimal Design Laboratory (NETMODE), National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Str., 157 80 Athens, Greece. ' Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, University of Aegean, AegeaNet, Emporiki, GR 83200 Karlovassi, Samos, Greece. ' Research Academic Computer Technology Institute and Computer Engineering and Informatics Dept., University of Patras, Nikolaou Kazatzaki Str., Patras University Campus, 265 00, Rion, Greece. ' Department of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki & Research Academic Computer Technology Institute – Research Unit 6, P.O. Box 114, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Grece

Abstract: E-government and e-democracy constitute a central theme in information society policy at all levels: local, regional, national, European and even globally. To this direction, a variety of efforts have been made, and many systems have been developed. This paper proposes a methodology for designing and implementing web-based services that can support e-democracy practices. Furthermore, the paper presents and describes the effort made by a Greek political party to this direction, for the design and development of a unified framework for providing, supporting and managing e-democracy services. The paper describes the actions taken and the work done according to the proposed methodology.

Keywords: e-government; e-democracy; open source software; electronic government; electronic democracy; political parties; Greece; web services; internet.

DOI: 10.1504/IJED.2008.021280

International Journal of Electronic Democracy, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.98 - 117

Published online: 16 Nov 2008 *