Disconnected communities? ICT, policy learning and the lessons for central–local relations

Abstract

Contemporary information and communication technologies (ICT) enable large amounts of information to be captured and communicated, and for service delivery processes to be re-engineered. However, claims for a new digital era governance and for the transformative role of ICT in public services are questionable. A policy learning approach is used in this article to demonstrate that the relationship between information, policy knowledge, formulation and action is complex and uncertain. ICT applications have limited capacity to transform radically the public policy process and the delivery of complex public services. Similarly, such applications are unlikely to transform central–local relations given the multiplicity of political, professional and territorial interests and perspectives.

Keywords:

• Central–local relations
• digital era governance
• e-governance
• governance, policy learning

Acknowledgement

This article draws on work supported by a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council Connected Communities Programme.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Martin Laffin

Martin Laffin is Head of School and Professor of Public Management at the School of Business and Management at Queen Mary University of London, UK.

Christianne Ormston

Christianne Ormston is Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Public Policy and Health, Durham University, UK.