e-Governance in Danish Local Authorities
– an Essay on Research in the Area

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is becoming an increasingly integrated part of daily life in local authorities in Denmark, resulting in significant changes in how local authorities interact with citizens. It may therefore seem odd that the tremendous resources being invested in ICT by Danish local authorities are not being followed up by social-science research. No basic data is being created on how developments in the use of ICT change the interaction between citizens and the local authorities. And there is no data that can support the practical application of ICT in the municipal administrations and institutions.

This essay contributes to the debate on the need for more social-science research in the area of "e-governance in local authorities". The essay focuses on four specific sub-areas where ICT will play a key role in the interaction between citizens and local authorities in coming years: 1) local democracy, 2) electronic self-service 3) knowledge-sharing and 4) citizens’ involvement in own cases.

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