Participating in the smart countryside? Perspectives and applications of digital participation procedures in rural regional development

What potentials and pitfalls emerge through digital formats in participation processes in rural regional development? The paper discusses, focusing on six regional case studies, how digital formats are used in civic participation in regional development processes in German rural areas. Results show (1) that digital participation formats vary in terms of level of complexity, serve different objectives, are in their success highly dependent on other context factors (e.g. participation culture, socio-economic factors and digital competency) and do not automatically enable more participation by hardly represented groups. In terms of spatial relations, (2) there is a lack of specifically rural examples as urban areas are overrepresented in contexts of digitalisation. Consequently, opportunities for action remain limited by spatial structures, and the engagement of individuals remains pivotal. Regarding the impact on practices of communication and interaction, (3) the main objective of digital formats is to strengthen citizens’ identification with the region, and digital formats turn out to qualify to varying degrees for implementing participation. Municipal and regional administrations, in particular, are key drivers for digital transitions in rural areas. Regarding chances of participation, we conclude that digital formats can create easier access, especially when linked with everyday practices. Hence, they contribute to a culture of participation. Yet, reaching target groups underrepresented in participatory processes remains a challenge.