Understanding Accountability in Democratic Governance

Abstract

This book comprehensively scrutinizes the key issue of the accountability of policy-makers in democratic governance. The electoral punishment of the incumbents, parliamentary control of government, and sanctions in case of administrative misconduct or negligence are the most visible manifestations of accountability in politics. However, the phenomenon is much more complex, and fully understanding such a multifaceted object requires bridging bodies of work that usually remain disjointed. The Element assesses the effectiveness of vertical accountability through elections and how interinstitutional accountability operates in checks-and-balances systems, including with the growing role of courts. It evaluates how the accountability of the bureaucracy has been affected by managerial reforms and different governance transformations. The book also scrutinizes to what extent mediatization and policy failure boost accountability, before zooming into the feelings and reactions of those who are held to account. It concludes by exploring new research areas.