Work

E-participation and corruption: Unravelling the role of power dynamics and disinformation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: E-participation initiatives help combat corruption in nations, but variations in urban–rural distribution of political power and the spread of social media disinformation by governments threaten their effectiveness. Through a cross-country analysis spanning 141 countries, we demonstrate the importance of a pro-rural approach in boosting the impact of e-participation initiatives on reducing corruption. Furthermore, we show that increased transparency and accountability from e-participation discourage governments from engaging in social media disinformation campaigns, ultimately lowering corruption levels. A configurational perspective shows that tackling corruption requires a multifaceted approach, with control of disinformation playing a key role. This study advances our understanding of general deterrence and urban bias theories, emphasizes the need for a multi-pronged approach to fight corruption, and identifies potential obstacles in fully realizing the benefits of e-participation initiatives.

Source: Information & Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.im.2025.104139

Authors: Pramukh Nanjundaswamy Vasist, Satish Krishnan, Thompson S.H. Teo, Nasreen Azad

Institutions: Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology, National University of Singapore

Language: English

Topic: E-Government and Public Services

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,540