Digital Democracy and Youth E-Participation in Pakistan

Abstract

The present study analysed and identified youth e-participation in the most advanced digital democratic worldview. The research used telephonic interview technique to collect data from the universe considering respondents' background and political e-participation. Qualitative research design was used in the present study to understand the underlying phenomenon clearly. Moreover, 10 interviews with one pilot study were conducted in Pakistan. To meet research objectives, the researcher used a purposive sampling technique to ensure the validity of the study. For the theoretical proposition, Andrew Chadwick's digital media, political communication, and e-democracy were used. The present study explored that, in today's era, social media has empowered youth in Pakistan to participate in e-politics and share their concerns and satisfaction. It is observed that there is a distinction between urban and rural political e-participation; urban youth are more likely to participate in politics than rural youth. On the other hand, it is also explored that the traditional political landscape is changing into an e-political landscape due to participants feeling more rational, logical, and systematic than traditional ones. They said that e-participation is establishing political identity and shaping public opinion more rationally than in the past. The present study highlighted e-participation in the Pakistani context.