The article argues that democratic stagnation in Panama is due to the growing political disengagement of young people, who, distrustful of institutions, prefer activities with immediate benefits. However, their high digital penetration and intensive use of social media offer a unique opportunity to revitalize citizen participation through digital democracy. This transformation requires moving beyond simple e-government toward digital governance that fosters bidirectional collaboration and citizen empowerment, enabling young people to directly influence public policies and community development. The relevance of this text to open data lies in the emergence of "technocivics," a space where transparency and the open exchange of information are essential for monitoring public spending and tracking development goals. The article highlights key terms such as open data, crowdsourcing, and open source as essential tools for this new form of social interaction. By promoting the openness of government information, it becomes easier for citizens to use these data to make informed decisions, create evidence-based proposals, and actively collaborate with the state, transforming apathy into structured civic action. Finally, the School of Democracy and Open Government is presented as a tangible mechanism to institutionalize this participation. This initiative aims to train students in the use of technologies and open government principles, fostering social leadership and oversight of community projects. By integrating e-learning with face-to-face education, the project not only educates about citizens' rights but also provides the practical tools necessary for young people to interact with public data and effectively participate in building their social environment.
Source:Published on 2023-03-17