Electronic Democracy and Constitutional Guarantees of Citizen Participation in the Context of Ukraine’s European Integration

Abstract

The article examines electronic democracy as an institutionally and technologically mediated form of the exercise of popular sovereignty in the context of digitalization. Its essence, structural characteristics, and place within the system of public administration are revealed, and the relationship between electronic and traditional forms of direct democracy is analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the role of electronic democracy in transforming the mechanisms of interaction between the state and civil society and in ensuring effective citizen participation in public decision-making processes. The aim of the study is to conduct a comprehensive constitutional and legal analysis of electronic democracy, to determine its role in ensuring citizen participation, and to substantiate the directions of its development in light of European standards.

Methods. The methodological basis of the study includes general scientific and special legal methods. The systemic method was applied to reveal electronic democracy as an integral mechanism for the realization of popular sovereignty. The formal-legal method was used to analyze the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine and legal acts regulating electronic forms of citizen participation. The comparative legal method enabled a comparison of national approaches with European standards of electronic democracy. The analytical method was applied to assess the effectiveness of the institutional framework for electronic participation in Ukraine.

Results. The study establishes that electronic democracy serves as an important tool for transforming interaction between the state and civil society, contributing to increased transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness of public authority. It is determined that Ukraine has developed a basic institutional framework for electronic democracy; however, its effectiveness is limited by the fragmentation of digital solutions and the formal nature of certain participation mechanisms. The need for a transition to an integrated model of electronic democracy and the implementation of European standards is substantiated. The author proposes a concept of constitutionally oriented development of electronic democracy and an implementation algorithm aimed at ensuring a real impact of citizens on public decision-making processes.