E-participation in local governments: The content analysis of mobile applications of Turkish metropolitan municipalities

The aim of this study is to identify the e-participation tools in the mobile applications of the Metropolitan Municipalities in Turkey and to make an analysis of the extent to which e-participation is achieved through these platforms. The mobile applications of 20 metropolitan municipalities in Turkey which have mobile applications were analyzed. The level of e-participation provided through mobile applications was analyzed at three levels: awareness, consultation and active participation. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that e-participation offered only through the mobile application of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality reached the level of active participation, and the level of e-participation offered through other applications could not go beyond awareness and consultation.