Oliveira, EvandroGonçalves, Gisela2022-05-182022-05-182016Oliveira, E. & Gonçalves, G. (2016). Talk to me and I will talk for you: Relationships between citizens and politics using the example of Portuguese Members of Parliaments’ online communication. In J. Paulo Serra & G. Gonçalves (Edts.), Politics and Web 2.0: The participation gap (pp. 89-119). Delaware, USA: Vernon Press978-1-62273-099-5http://hdl.handle.net/10400.6/12228In line with the “relationship management” theory, which claims that in order for an organization to be successful it needs to put ef-ort into establishing and nurturing relationships with its publics and balance mutual interests (Ledingham, 2006, 2011), the main goal of this chapter is to analyse whether or not online communication tools stimulate citizen-politician relationships. In particular, we aim to find out and reflect on how social media is being used to foster interaction and dialogue between citizens and Members of Parliament, specifically at the Portuguese Parliament – Assembleia da República. Our main focus is on this relationship, considering the representative democratic principles that work towards public dialogic needs in a framework of legitimization and transparency, and isolating it from structures and interactions on the platforms made available centrally by the political party or by the Parliament.engPolitical communicationPolitical participationWeb 2.0Portuguese MPsbook part