Abstract

Significant global challenges related to persistent economic crises, local conflicts and continuous waves of refugees being displaced from their countries of origin are affecting secure access to and completion of people’s voting rights. The relevant technological solutions appear to have matured and have successfully responded to rigorous testing, however, there are still doubts as to the success of these e-democracy solutions in complex political environments. Since the late 1940s, Palestinians have been scattered across the world thus creating particular challenges relating to the democratic process for this diaspora community. In an effort to address this issue, the Palestinian Authority has started its e-government project since 2001 but at the current time, the project has failed to deliver its objectives. This study is using a mixed method research methodology for the purpose of obtaining rich interpretive insights to understand the above-mentioned particular phenomenon, by conceptualising it as a socio-political issue. Analysis of the contextual factors affecting e-government implementation in Palestine will enhance our understanding of the underlying forces that promote or hinder e-government projects in general. In this regard, although previous studies have examined some factors related to e-government as a tool for the dissemination of governmental information, there is a need to address e-voting (as a specific e-government service) and the challenges of introducing e-democracy into the unique contextual circumstances such as those represented by the Palestinian situation. The results of this research would clarify the policy-making processes influencing e-government implementation projects in other complex contextual circumstances such as other refugee communities seeking participation in their political processes.

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