University of Twente Student Theses
Unlocking citizen power in the face of authoritarianism : a comparative case-study of e-participatory budgeting in Chengdu and Chicago
Bekker, Carlotta (2025) Unlocking citizen power in the face of authoritarianism : a comparative case-study of e-participatory budgeting in Chengdu and Chicago.
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| Abstract: | The concept of citizen participation in various stages of the policy cycle has gained popularity over the last few decades, in research as well as in political discourse. Innovations, such as e-participatory budgeting are presented as key methods to improve deliberation and promote democratic ideals. In this thesis the extent of citizen participation in democracies and authoritarian regimes has been investigated through a comparative case study of e-participatory budgeting in Chengdu, China and Chicago, USA. To answer the explanatory research question “To what extent does e-participatory budgeting promote citizen participation in democracies and authoritarian regimes?”, a thematic analysis of secondary sources was conducted. Moreover, the various sources were analyzed using an analytical grid, consisting of Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation (2019) and Ebdon & Franklin’s Framework on Participatory Budgeting (2006), allowing a thorough evaluation of the two cases of PB. The findings of this research show that in both Chengdu and Chicago e-PB has successfully promoted citizen power at the local level, however contested by various challenges. Contrasting popular bias, this thesis shows that democratic innovations function in both authoritarian regimes and democracies alike, therefore presenting a possible avenue for the promotion of democratic ideals across the world. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 70 social sciences in general, 88 social and public administration, 89 political science |
| Programme: | Management Society and Technology BSc (56654) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/105094 |
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