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Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025)

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E-Democracy and Citizen Participation in Liberia: Confronting the Challenges of Inclusivity and Engagement

https://doi.org/10.24905/jip.10.2.2025.129-144
Kerkulah P Nyeleker
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta
Dian Eka Rahmawati
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta
Eko Priyo Purnomo
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta
Non Naprathansuk
Maejo University

Corresponding Author(s) : Kerkulah P Nyeleker

kerkulah.p.isip22@mail.umy.ac.id

Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan : Kajian Ilmu Pemerintahan dan Politik Daerah, Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025)

Abstract

E-democracy involves the idea that digital tools such as the Internet can enhance citizen participation in decision-making. However, Liberia, a post-conflict state, still faces challenges with e-democracy. This article explores the factors obstructing the realisation of e-democracy and its goal of fostering meaningful citizen engagement in Liberia. This study used a qualitative approach, collecting secondary data from peer-reviewed articles, official reports, newspapers, and other sources, and interactively analysed in the NVivo 12 Plus software. The analysis is based on Marianne Kneuer's theory of e-democracy, which comprises three indicators: free and equal access, e-participation, and e-government. The findings indicate that the implementation of e-democracy in Liberia encounters several obstacles: (i) limited free and unequal digital access due to weak legal protections for internet freedom, online intimidation, high internet costs, and low digital literacy; (ii) absence of e-participation as citizens struggle to access timely and reliable government information. Traditional media, especially radio, continues to be the primary source compared to digital platforms; (iii) lack of e-government services owing to ineffective online government platforms and unreliable digital services, which force citizens to rely on traditional methods to access public services.

Keywords

Digital Democracy Citizen Participation Digital Gap Inclusive Governance Liberia
Nyeleker, K. P., Eka Rahmawati, D. ., Priyo Purnomo, E., & Naprathansuk, N. (2025). E-Democracy and Citizen Participation in Liberia: Confronting the Challenges of Inclusivity and Engagement. Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan : Kajian Ilmu Pemerintahan Dan Politik Daerah, 10(2), 129–144. https://doi.org/10.24905/jip.10.2.2025.129-144
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Author Biographies

Kerkulah P Nyeleker, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

Liberian student in the Department of Government Affairs and Administration at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He works as a Research and Administrative Assistant at the Jusuf Kalla School of Government (JKSG) and the Asia Pacific Society for Public Affairs (APSPA), where he supports research and academic initiatives in public policy and sustainability. His research interests include climate policy and sustainability in the Global South, exploring how global public policy frameworks influence local implementation and development outcomes. His work also examines the interaction between international policy regimes and national policy processes, with an emphasis on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research, advocacy, and institutional collaboration. He aspires to become a global public policy expert in international governance and policy regimes.

Dian Eka Rahmawati, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

Associate Professor in the Government Science Program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Indonesia. She specialises in local politics, public leadership, and government communication, with a strong academic focus on participatory governance and decentralisation in Indonesia. As a faculty member, she teaches core subjects including Government Communication and Leadership while actively supervising student research across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her scholarly work contributes to advancing the understanding of political engagement and institutional development in Southeast Asia.

Eko Priyo Purnomo, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

Professor at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Indonesia. He currently serves as the Director of the Jusuf Kalla School of Government at UMY. His research interests span political ecology, sustainable development, and policy innovation. He can be reached at eko@umy.ac.id

Non Naprathansuk, Maejo University

Professor at the School of Administrative Studies, Maejo University, Thailand. His research interests include Thai politics, Southeast Asian studies, and social movements.

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