Jurisprudential Perspective оn Civic-Political Synergy іn Digital Participation іn Latvia

Abstract

This cross-disciplinary study in political science employs analytical and sociological jurisprudence to elucidate the civic-political synergy among actors within Latvia's highly efficient digital civic participation ecosystem. With 78 civic-initiated legislative changes over 13 years ‒ most occurring between electoral cycles ‒ Latvia stands out globally for its efficiency in this area of governance. Despite its international significance in democratic processes and governance innovation, the efficiency of digital civic participation and the roles of its actors remain underexplored. Comparable systems of digital civic participation are widespread, including in Ukraine; however, their measurable and sustained efficiency often presents challenges. The case of legislated collective submissions in Latvia, alongside the digital civic participation ecosystem centred on the ManaBalss.lv (MyVoice) platform since 2011, provides a clear example of mutually beneficial, goal-oriented synergies between diverse democratic actors. Moreover, it underscores the importance of balanced regulation in establishing the legal framework within which these dedicated participants operate. While the ManaBalss.lv platform was initially created to empower civil society vis-à-vis politicians, political parties have gradually reframed their campaigns to leverage this highly successful and respected platform for their own objectives. To prevent misuse of ManaBalss.lv, a publication fee for politicians’ initiatives was introduced in 2018, alongside a disclaimer accompanying such initiatives. This case study examines recent examples of party-sponsored civic campaigns on ManaBalss.lv from 2018 to 2023, analysing the motivations of politicians and parties in utilising this tool. The analysis draws on the theory of the network society, integrating concepts such as the normalised digital revolution and policy entrepreneurship. To elucidate the legal foundation underpinning the civic-political synergy under study, the research relies on the concept of institutional facts developed by analytical jurisprudence. Sociological jurisprudence complements this approach by providing a contextual analysis of the actors’ engagement within the normative framework of digital civic participation in Latvia. Furthermore, it aids in theorising the potential alignment of legal systems to promote efficient digital civic participation in legislative agenda-setting, contributing to the novelty of this research.The empirical data for this study consists of semi-structured interviews mostly with politicians who have recently used ManaBalss.lv in their campaigns, as well as with those familiar with the platform since its inception in 2011. The research also incorporates data obtained directly from ManaBalss.lv. The analysis reveals a constructive and purposeful synergy between various actors within Latvia’s digital participation ecosystem. The study highlights two primary types of actors: the NGO behind ManaBalss.lv and individual politicians or political parties. These actors are conceptualised as policy entrepreneurs, with civic entrepreneurs and political entrepreneurs representing their respective roles. The study concludes that a hallmark of political campaigns within Latvia’s established digital participation ecosystem is their sustainability and independence from electoral cycles. These campaigns maintain enduring connections to pressing civic society issues within specific policy areas, thereby bolstering the political capital of the actors involved. The findings underscore the pivotal role of the civic component in fostering an efficient civic-political synergy in digital participation. Additionally, through the combined lens of analytical and sociological jurisprudence, this research elucidates an essential aspect of a coherent legal framework for an effective digital participation ecosystem: synergy among the stakeholders.