Using Twitter for Dialogic Communication: Local Government Strategies in the European Union

Abstract

Social networks have changed the way in which governments communicate with citizens, encouraging them to participate in decision-making processes. Nevertheless, few studies have specifically addressed the use of social networks in public sector from the standpoint of dialogic communication theory. The aim of this study is, first, to analyse the extent to which European local governments are developing dialogic strategies in their Twitter profiles in order to establish and enhance relations with their citizens and then to examine the impact of certain factors on the implementation of these dialogic strategies. The findings show that the situation is open to improvement, because local governments are mostly unaware of the benefits offered by the use of dialogic principles when establishing online relationships with stakeholders. Therefore, this paper sheds light on the dialogic potential that social networks provide in public sector, and particularly, it offers a guide regarding how local government should implement Twitter to foster the dialogic communication with citizens.

Key Words:

• Social media
• ITC
• communication
• public administration

Additional information

Funding

This research was carried out with financial support from the Regional Government of Andalusia (Spain), Department of Innovation, Science and Enterprise (Research Projects P10-SEJ-06628 and P11-SEJ-7700).

Notes on contributors

Alejandro Sáez Martín

Carmen Caba Pérez is Associate Professor at the Department of Accounting and Finance at the University of Almería, Spain. Her research interests are focused on the financial information disclosures on the Web (e-government), on the management system and financial information in the federal and local governments. She is the author of various book chapters and of articles in journals including The International Journal of Public Sector Management, Government Information Quarterly, Public Relations Review, International Review of Administrative Sciences, American Review of Public Administration, and Public Administration and Development.

Arturo Haro de Rosario

Alejandro Sáez Martín is a researcher in government administration in the Department of Economics and Business at the University of Almería. His research interests are focused on the financial information disclosures on the Web (e-government), on the management system and financial information in the federal and local governments. He is the author of articles in journals including Retos, Revista Finanzas y Politicas Públicas, and Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy.

María Del Carmen Caba Pérez

Arturo Haro De Rosario is a senior lecturer at the Department of Economics and Business at the University of Almería, Spain. His research interests are focused on the financial information disclosures on the Web (e-government), on the management system and financial information in the federal and local governments. He is the author of articles in journals including Small Business Economics, Revista Finanzas y Politicas Públicas, and Revista de Ciencias Sociales.