FACTORS OF ENGAGEMENT FOR AN IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP TOWARDS PROACTIVE GOVERNANCE - A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY OF SINGAPORE'S BLOGOSPHERE

Abstract

THIS RESEARCH IS AN ATTEMPT AT EXPLORING THE PARAMETERS OF NEW MEDIA SPACES, CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND GOVERNING CHALLENGES. THE RESEARCH FOCUSED ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE GOVERNMENT, WITH THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY IN MIND, AND EXAMINES THE FACTORS OF ENGAGEMENT THAT COULD IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP BY ANALYSING THE BLOGOSPHERE DISCUSSIONS. THE THESIS DEVIATES FROM THE EXISTING RESEARCH WHICH EXAMINED THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AS COLLECTIVE COMMUNICATION ON CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND GOVERNANCE, INSTEAD EXAMINES THE CITIZEN DELIBERATIONS FOR ANSWERS TOWARDS AN IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP. THUS, THE RESEARCH FINDS AN UNEXPLORED NICHE IN THE EXISTING SCHOLARSHIP. THE OUTCOME OF THE RESEARCH I.E. THE FACTORS OF ENGAGEMENT, PRESENTED SEVERAL TRAJECTORIES IN THE EXISTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITIZENRY AND GOVERNMENT. THE RESEARCH INTRODUCES THE `SOFT RATIONALITY? AS AN IMPLICATION WHICH ENCOURAGES THE STRATEGIZING EMPATHY AND RATIONALITY AS A CONCEIVABLE SCHEME FOR