Smart Government Empowering Communities for Green Initiatives

Abstract

This research examines communication between government entities and citizens within the context of smart government, where digital communication tools are utilized to effectively address citizens’ needs. The study particularly focuses on smart government from the perspective of two-way communication, emphasizing how reciprocal interaction between the government and citizens fosters transparency, trust, and collaborative problem-solving in the digital era. We employed netnography, a methodological approach rooted in online ethnography, to explore recent discourse between the government and citizens in the realm of smart government development, with particular focus on their daily interactions as key stakeholders. The study uncovers a dynamic landscape of reciprocal communication between government agencies and citizens, where social media platforms serve as the linchpin for information exchange, feedback mechanisms, and collaborative problem-solving. Community representatives in this communication ecosystem include local digital mass media, opinion leaders, and concerned individuals who advocate for more effective waste management practices as part of green initiatives within the city. Our findings demonstrate that social media enhances smart government–citizen communication, with local digital media amplifying citizens’ voices and opinion leaders acting as catalysts for information exchange. Social media also challenges the culture of conventional bureaucracy, which is hierarchical and characterized by tiered vertical communication. The netnographic analysis reveals digital collaborative efforts aimed at achieving more efficient and eco-friendly waste management strategies as one of the major urban problems. In this context, smart government refers to the wise management of alternative communication channels to address issues of high urgency.