Title
Democratic Accountability : Why Choice in Politics Is Both Possible and Necessary / Leif Lewin.
ISBN
9780674274792
Published
Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press, [2007]
Copyright
©2007
Language
English
Language Note
In English.
Description
1 online resource (264 p.)
Other Standard Identifiers
10.4159/9780674274792 doi
Call Number
JC423 .L4857 2007
Dewey Decimal Classification
321.8
Summary
It is common for political leaders to claim they have no control over bad outcomes. Indeed, they often cite the arguments of political theorists and public intellectuals as to why: history rushes onward oblivious of human will; force and violence overcome political aims; globalization undermines the actions of national leaders; the bureaucracy sabotages their intentions; bad outcomes are often the unintended result of actions. In Democratic Accountability, Leif Lewin examines these reasons and argues that they are unconvincing. He makes his case by describing and analyzing counterexamples in seven cases, including the prevention of a communist takeover in Europe after World War II, the European Union's preventing another European war, and Margaret Thatcher's taming of the bureaucracy in Britain. In a staunch defense of the possibility for meaningful and profound democratic decision making, Lewin finds that, in fact, not only do political leaders exert a good measure of control and therefore can be assigned responsibility, but the meaning of the functioning democracy is that the people hold their leaders accountable.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
System Details Note
Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
Digital File Characteristics
text file PDF
Source of Description
Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 01. Dez 2022)
Frontmatter
Contents
CHAPTER 1 Introduction: The Politics of Blame Avoidance
CHAPTER 2 History Is Not Predetermined
CHAPTER 3 Nation-States Need Not Go to War
CHAPTER 4 Globalization Has Not Wiped Out the Freedom to Choose
CHAPTER 5 Power-Sharing Does Not Exclude Accountability
CHAPTER 6 Implementation May Well Be Immaculate
CHAPTER 7 Consequences May Well Be as Intended
CHAPTER 8 Action Can Be Meaningful Even if Irrational
CHAPTER 9 Conclusion: The Necessity for Choice
Notes
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Index
