By combining modern electronic communication and freedom of access to public information and services throughout the world, electronic government may well represent one of the major revolutions in modern democracy and advancements for commerce in this and the next century.

E-Government is being rapidly driven by practitioners and researchers alike. Both the practice of E-Government and its analysis by researchers are still within their infancy. The Journal of E-Government will provide a forum where the combined experiences of practitioners and researchers equally will help E-Government to attain its highest potential. While the Journal will always strive to adhere to rigorous academic standards, it particularly intends to keep a vigilant eye on developments in the practice of E-Government and to initiate a spirited dialogue between practitioners and researchers. We firmly believe that in this way, E-Government will best serve the world's citizens.

It is our hope that when practitioners learn from other practitioners, researchers from other researchers, and governments from the experiences of other governments, they will all enter an open debate with each other in one place, exchange vital information, and profit from each other.

We also hope that in this way, governments and citizens alike will be encouraged to expect the best of E-Government across the globe.

To enable these goals, each edition of the new Journal of E-Government will provide an array of excellent scholarly research, expert commentaries, new assessments of best practices in E-Government throughout the world, and real world insights by practitioners into the world of E-Government as it rapidly develops.

The Journal's focus will range from local projects providing online government services to entire national and international government initiatives. It will analyze the use of information technology as a means of enhancing democracy and democratic institutions.

In addition to articles from the best obtainable leading practitioners and researchers of E-Government, The Journal of E-Government will feature book reviews, commentaries, news updates about key developments in E-Government, and continuing world bibliographies on E-Government.