[LINK] Government
2.0
and
Onwards

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Here's a *significant* new free e-book ..
"a
stellar
cast
of
thinkers"

http://21gov.net/wp-content/uploads/e-book.pdf



 'State
of
the
eUnion: Government
2.0
and
Onwards'


Edited
by
John
Gøtze
& Christian
Bering
Pedersen.
Foreword
by
Don
Tapscott
..


In
the
traditional
form
of
democracy
enjoyed
by
previous
generations,
citizens
listened
to
speeches,
debates
and
television
ads.
They
gave
money
and
voted.
But
when
it
came
to
having
input
into
policy
and
real
decisions,
they
were
relegated
to
the
sidelines.


The
Internet
enables
a
new
model
of
democracy
–
one
appropriate
for
The
Net
Generation.


Having
grown
up
digital,
the Net Generation
expect
to
collaborate
with
everyone including
politicians.


They
want
to
be
involved
directly:
to
interact
with
them,
contribute
ideas
and
scrutinize
their
actions,
not
just during
elections,
but
as
they
govern.


And
they
will
insist
on
integrity
from
politicians;
they
will
know
very
quickly
if
a
politician
says
one
thing
and
does
another.



Barack
Obama
understood
this
and
enabled
citizens,
largely
youth,
to
organize
a
social
movement
that
brought
him
to
power.
Now
he’s
embracing
these
same

principles
to
change
the
way
government
operates
and
engages
its
citizens.


Ultimately
this
promises
to
change
the
nature
of
democracy
and
the

relationship
between
citizens
and
the
state
–
for
the
better.


The
first
wave
of
democracy
established
elected
and
accountable
institutions
of
governance,
but
with
a
weak
public
mandate
and
an
inert
citizenry.
The
second
wave
is
being
characterized
by
strong
representation
and
a
new
culture
of
public
deliberation
built
on
active
citizenship.




Call
it
Democracy
2.0.



All
of
this
requires
leadership.
Which
is
why
the
book
"State
of
the
eUnion"
is
so
important
and
timely.
John
Gøtze
and
Christian
Bering
Pedersen
have
assembled
a
stellar
cast
of
thinkers
and
practitioners
who
are
pioneering

the
new
possibilities
for
new
paradigms
in
government
and
governance.



Beginning
with
thoughtful
definitional
papers
about
Government
2.0,
the
book
explores
the
topic
of
"Open
Government"

which
as
much
as
any
topic
is
central
to
the
new
thinking.
 

It
then
delves
into
the
issues
of
democratization
and
citizen
engagement
with
stimulating
and
satisfying
contributions
based
on
real
world
experience.



Every
government
leader,
every
elected
official
and
every
government
employee
should
read
this
book
and
get
involved
in
one
of
the
most
exciting
challenges
of
our
times
–
transforming
government
for
effectiveness,
relevance
and
success,
enabled
by
a
new
medium
of
communications
and
required
for
the

emerging
citizens
of
the
21st
century.
The
stakes
are
very
high.



Don
Tapscott


Toronto,
November
2009


--

Cheers,
Stephen