E-Participation in Crises and Socio-Political Transformation: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Introduction The contemporary world is in an “age of crises” characterized by global pandemics, economic instabilities, and technological disruptions. During this period, state-citizen interaction has undergone a structural transformation, shifting towards digital platforms. E-participation, initially viewed as an administrative facilitator, has now become a fundamental mechanism for budgetary transparency, combating corruption, and building institutional trust during times of crisis. However, the literature emphasizes that technological infrastructure alone does not guarantee democratic accountability. This study aims to map the development of the e-participation literature from 1979 to 2026 using bibliometric data and to evaluate the institutionalization dynamics during crisis periods within the framework of mainstream public administration debates (transparency, the digital divide, and institutional trust). Theoretical Framework The conceptual framework of this study is based on three fundamental pillars that treat e-participation not as a technological evolution but as a socio-political institutionalization process: Institutional Trust and Transparency: Decreased trust in public institutions during times of crisis can be overcome by increasing the transparency of administrative processes. E-participation is an “open government” tool that prevents asymmetric information distribution. Digital Divide and Inclusion: Inequalities in access to technology and literacy levels are the most fundamental structural barriers limiting the democratic potential of e-participation, leading to the exclusion of disadvantaged groups from public policies. From Adoption to Institutionalization: It is not enough for public administrations to simply “adopt” digital platforms technologically. E-participation needs to be “institutionalized” by integrating it into legal frameworks and administrative culture. Methodology This research employed a bibliometric analysis method to map the conceptual structure of the e-participation literature. The analysis universe consisted of 882 articles covering the years 1979-2026, identified using the “Topic” (TS) parameter in the WoS Core Collection database. Bibliometrix software was used to visualize the Bradford Law distribution, annual production trends, and co-word networks. Findings Bibliometric findings confirm that the e-participation literature has shown significant growth, particularly in the post-2020 period when crises deepened globally, peaking in 2025 with 81 publications. A total of 17,989 citations demonstrate the high academic impact of the field. Network analyses revealed the following key findings: Thematic Focus: While e-participation (405), e-government (220), and social media (104) are dominant themes in common word analyses, the relational networks formed by the concepts of trust (60), transparency (47), adoption (75), and the digital divide (24) determine the center of gravity of the literature. Application Area: It was found that the subject was empirically tested most at the “local government” level, but these infrastructures mainly remained at the level of one-way information delivery (e-informing). Moderator Effect: Comparative data show that the corruption-reducing effect of e-participation only translates into public value when the digital divide is narrowed and civic communication infrastructures are strong. Discussion and Future Studies The bibliometric “Trend Topics” map objectively documents a significant paradigm shift in literature. While concepts such as “e-readiness” and “information technology infrastructure” were prominent in the early 2010s, the current discussion has shifted entirely to the axes of “democracy,” “citizen participation,” and “institutional design.” This change demonstrates that literature has abandoned technological determinism and is focusing on governance and design. When the theoretical framework and bibliometric findings are considered together, it becomes clear that the mere existence of e-participation tools does not create public value; this can only be achieved by narrowing the digital divide. Future efforts should focus on overcoming bureaucratic barriers to two-way e-participation in local governments, developing and implementing inclusive policies to bridge the digital divide, and establishing policies to ensure the security and reliability of data published by public institutions during times of crisis. In times of crisis, policymakers must abandon viewing e-participation as merely a technological tool and, to build a socio-political order resilient to crises, should: Local and central government websites should be transformed from one-way information boards into platforms that allow for two-way interaction. Online participation processes should be supported by traditional offline mechanisms to prevent the digital divide from deepening. E-participation applications should be institutionalized by establishing a legal framework, and citizens' data privacy should be guaranteed through algorithmic transparency principles.