On the Myth of Electoral Accountability

Anna Młynarska-Sobaczewska, Jacek Zaleśny

Abstract


The article presents scientific research on certain assumptions concerning electoral accountability and provides conceptual insights. The central hypothesis is to demonstrate the illusory nature of accountability for the exercise of power once the electoral process comes to an end. An analysis is made of the character and epistemic value of electoral accountability as a myth – a creation structuring an image of political reality. The research is supported by empirical evidence from contemporary social studies. The purpose of the article is to show that the concepts of representation and accountability in political relations are mythical constructs; such an insight allows us to better understand the false expectations those constructions lead to. The study takes an international approach and contributes to worldwide deliberations on political representation.


Keywords


electoral accountability; electoral process; representation; political reality

Full Text:

PDF

References


LITERATURE

Applebaum A., Zmierzch demokracji. Zwodniczy powab autorytaryzmu, Warszawa 2020.

Bamforth N., Accountability of and to the Legislature, [in:] Accountability in the Contemporary Constitution, eds. N. Bamforthe, P. Leylan, Oxford 2013.

Barcz J., Parlament a Unia Europejska. Analiza prawna na przykładzie doświadczeń Austrii (wraz z podstawowymi dokumentami), Warszawa 1999.

Bartels L., The Irrational Electorate, “Wilson Quarterly” 2008 (Autumn).

Bartels L., Uninformed Votes: Information Effects in Presidential Elections, “American Political Science Review” 1996, vol. 40(1), DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2111700.

Bergman T., Müller W.C., Strøm K., Blomgren M., Democratic Delegation and Accountability: Cross-National Pattern, [in:] Delegation and Accountability in Parliamentary Democracies, eds. K. Strøm, W.C. Müller, T. Bergman, Oxford 2003, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/019829784X.003.0004.

Bernays E.L., Propaganda, Wrocław 2020.

Birch S., Full Participation: A Comparative Study of Compulsory Voting, Tokyo–New York–Paris 2009, DOI: https://doi.org/10.7228/manchester/9780719077623.001.0001.

Borowiak C.T., Accountability and Democracy: The Pitfalls and Promise of Popular Control, Oxford 2011, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199778256.001.0001.

Bovens M., Schillemans T., Goodin R.E., Public Accountability, [in:] The Oxford Handbook of Public Accountability, eds. M. Bovens, T. Schillemans, R.E. Goodin, Oxford 2014, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199641253.013.0012.

Brennan J., Against Democracy, Princeton 2017, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvc77mcz.

Brennan G., Hamlin A., On Political Representation, “British Journal of Political Science” 1999, vol. 29(1), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123499000058.

Brenner M., Zjawisko personalizacji politycznej, “Studia Politologiczne” 2010, no. 10.

Burke E., Przemówienie do elektorów w Bristolu, [in:] Odwołanie od nowych do starych wigów, Kraków 2015.

Caplan B., Mit racjonalnego wyborcy. Dlaczego w demokracji wybiera się złe programy polityczne, Wrocław 2017.

Carey J.M., Legislative Voting and Accountability, Cambridge 2009.

Ceglarska A., Law as a Fable: The Issue of Myth in the Interpretation of Law, “Studia Iuridica Lublinensia” 2021, vol. 30(2), DOI: https://doi.org/10.17951/sil.2021.30.2.49-61.

Costas-Pérez E., Solé-Ollé A., Sorribas-Navarro P., Corruption Scandals, Voter Information, and Accountability, “European Journal of Political Economy” 2012, vol. 28(4), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2012.05.007.

Cotterrell R., Why Must Legal Ideas Be Interpreted Sociologically?, “Journal of Law and Society” 1998, vol. 25(2), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6478.00086.

Davies A.C.L., Accountability: A Public Law Analysis of Government by Contract, Oxford 2001, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198299486.001.0001.

Dawood Y., Campaign Finance and American Democracy, “Annual Review of Political Science” 2015, vol. 18, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-010814-104523.

Dimova G., Democracy Beyond Elections: Government Accountability in the Media Age, London 2020, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25294-6.

Dowdle M.W., Public Accountability: Conceptual, Historical, and Epistemic Mappings, [in:] Public Accountability: Designs, Dilemmas and Experiences, ed. M.W. Dowdle, Cambridge 2006.

Dudek D., Biznes i (nie)odpowiedzialność konstytucyjna posła, “Studia Iuridica Lublinensia” 2014, vol. 22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.17951/sil.2014.22.219.

Durkheim E., Elementarne formy życia religijnego, Warszawa 1990.

Durkheim E., Mauss M., O niektórych pierwotnych formach klasyfikacji. Przyczynek do badań nad wyobrażeniami zbiorowymi, [in:] Socjologia i antropologia, ed. M. Mauss, Warszawa 2001.

Eatwell R., Goodwin M., Narodowy populizm. Zamach na demokrację liberalną, Katowice 2020.

Fearon J.D., Electoral Accountability and the Control of Politicians: Selecting Good Types versus Sanctioning Poor Performance, [in:] Democracy, Accountability and Representation, eds. A. Przeworski, S.C. Stokes, B. Manin, Cambridge 1999, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139175104.003.

Filipowicz F., Mit i spektakl władzy, Warszawa 1988.

Fishkin J.S., The Voice of the People: Public Opinion and Democracy, New Haven 1995.

Forejohn J., Accountability and Authority: Toward a Theory of Political Accountability, [in:] Democracy, Accountability and Representation, eds. A. Przeworski, S.C. Stokes, B. Manin, Cambridge 1999, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139175104.005.

Fumarola A., The Contexts of Electoral Accountability: Electoral Integrity Performance Voting in 23 Democracies, “Government and Opposition” 2020, vol. 55(1), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/gov.2018.13.

Gerken H.K., Boden Lecture. The Real Problem with Citizens United: Campaign Finance, Dark Money, and Shadow Parties, “Marquette Law Review” 2014, vol. 97(4).

Gibbons P.A., Ideas of Political Representation in Parliament 1660–1832, Oxford 1914.

Gilens M., Page B.I., Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens, “Perspectives on Politics” 2014, vol. 12(3), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592714001595.

Goetz A.M., Jenkins R., Reinventing Accountability: Making Democracy Work for Human Development, London 2005, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230500143.

Hellwig T., Samuels D., Electoral Accountability and the Variety of Democratic Regimes, “British Journal of Political Science” 2008, vol. 38(1), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123408000045.

Hobolt S., Tilley J., Banducci S., Clarity of Responsibility: How Government Cohesion Conditions Performance Voting, “European Journal of Political Research” 2013, vol. 52(2), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6765.2012.02072.x.

Hogan J., Election and Representation, Cork 1945.

Hutchinson V.L., Public Opinion and Democratic Accountability: How Citizens Learn about Politics, Princeton 2005.

Jung E.J., Władztwo miernot. Jego rozpad i zastąpienie przez Nowe Imperium, Kraków 2019.

Karwat M., O statusie pojęcia „polityczności”, “Studia Politologiczne” 2015, no. 37.

Key V.O., The Responsible Electorate: Rationality in Presidential Voting, 1936–1960, Cambridge 1968.

Kruk M., Kubuj K., Laskowska M., Zaleśny J., Godlewski M., Olszówka M., Representational Mandate in the Polish Deputies’ Practice, Warsaw 2013.

Kwiatkowska E., Mit zbiorowy, społeczny, indywidualny? Kilka uwag o możliwości pojęcia mitu indywidualnego w socjologii, “Prace Kulturoznawcze” 2010, vol. 11.

Lever A., Compulsory Voting: A Critical Perspective, “British Journal of Political Science” 2010, vol. 40(4), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123410000050.

Lundell K., Accountability and Patterns of Alternation in Pluralitarian, Majoriatarian and Consensus Democracies, “Government and Opposition” 2011, vol. 46(2), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-7053.2010.01334.x.

Maistre J. de, Studium suwerenności, [in:] O rewolucji, suwerenności i konstytucji politycznej. Wybór pism, Kraków 2019.

Mainwaring S., Introduction: Democratic Accountability in Latin America, [in:] Democratic Accountability in Latin America, eds. S. Mainwaring, C. Welna, Oxford 2005.

Manin B., The Principles of Representative Government, Cambridge 1997.

Manin B., Przeworski A., Stokes S.C., Introduction, [in:] Democracy, Accountability and Representation, eds. A. Przeworski, S.C. Stokes, B. Manin, Cambridge 1999.

Maurras C., Przyszłość inteligencji i inne pisma, Dębogóra 2020.

Morel C., Décisions absurdes, Paris 2002.

Mounk Y., Lud kontra demokracja. Dlaczego nasza wolność jest w niebezpieczeństwie i jak ją ocalić, Warszawa 2019.

Oliver D., Accountability and the Foundations of British Democracy – the Public Interest and Public Service Principles, [in:] Accountability in the Contemporary Constitution, eds. N. Bamforthe, P. Leyland, Oxford 2013, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199670024.003.0012.

Orłowski W., Stare i nowe problemy procesu ustawodawczego, [in:] Konstytucja w państwie demokratycznym, eds. S. Patyra, M. Sadowski, K. Urbaniak, Poznań 2017.

Palumbo A., Introduction, [in:] Political Accountability, eds. R. Bellamy, A. Palumbo, Farnham 2010.

Patyra S., Konsultacje społeczne w procesie przygotowywania rządowych projektów ustaw – zarys problemu, “Studia Iuridica Lublinensia” 2014, vol. 22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.17951/sil.2014.22.0.497.

Pettit P., Three Conceptions of Democratic Control, [in:] Political Accountability, eds. R. Bellamy, A. Palumbo, Farnham 2010.

Pitkin H.F., The Concept of Representation, Los Angeles 1967.

Powell Jr. G.B., Wybory jako narzędzie demokracji. Koncepcje większościowe i proporcjonalne, Warszawa 2006.

Rodan G., Hughes C., The Politics of Accountability in Southeast Asia: The Dominance of Moral Ideologies, Oxford 2014, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198703532.001.0001.

Rosanvallon P., Dobre rządy, Warszawa 2018.

Runciman D., Jak kończy się demokracja, Warszawa 2019.

Runciman D., The Paradox of Political Representation, “Journal of Political Philosophy” 2007, vol. 15(1), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9760.2007.00266.x.

Schedler A., Diamond L., Plattner M.F. (eds.), The Self-Restraining State: Power and Accountability in New Democracies, Boulder 1999, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781685854133.

Schmitter P.C., The Ambiguous Virtues of Accountability, [in:] Assessing the Quality of Democracy, eds. L. Diamond, L. Morlino, Baltimore 2005.

Schmitter P.C., Karl T.L., What Democracy Is… and Is Not, “Journal of Democracy” 1991, vol. 2(3), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.1991.0033.

Schumpeter J.A., Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, New York 2003.

Somin I., Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government Is Smarter, Stanford 2013.

Strøm K., Delegation and Accountability in Parliamentary Democracies, [in:] Political Accountability, eds. R. Bellamy, A. Palumbo, Farnham 2010.

Szymanek J., Reprezentacja i mandat parlamentarny, Warszawa 2013.

Szymanek J., Reprezentacja polityczna: interpretacja pojęcia, [in:] Ustroje: historia i współczesność. Polska – Europa – Ameryka Łacińska. Księga jubileuszowa dedykowana Profesorowi Jackowi Czajowskiemu, eds. M. Grzybowski, G. Kuca, P. Mikuli, Kraków 2013.

Szymanek J., Reprezentacja polityczna w ujęciu doktryny francuskiej, “Studia Iuridica Lublinensia” 2014, vol. 22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.17951/sil.2014.22.135.

Vannucci A., The Controversial Legacy of ‘Mani Pulite’: A Critical Analysis of Italian Corruption and Anti-Corruption Policies, “Bulletin of Italian Politics” 2009, vol. 1(2).

Vieira M.B., Runciman D., Reprezentacja, Warszawa 2011.

Walther K., Electoral Systems and Accountability: Challenges and Considerations for South Africa, Auckland 2017.

Wawrzyniak J., O niektórych osobliwościach Konstytucji V Republiki Francuskiej, “Studia Iuridica Lublinensia” 2014, vol. 22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.17951/sil.2014.22.0.149.

Włoch W., Tarnowska A., Bień-Kacała A., Asymetria władzy, czyli delegacja prawodawcza w demokracji reprezentatywnej. Studium filozoficzno-prawne, Toruń 2022.

Young M., Inclusion and Democracy, Oxford 2000.

Zakaria F., Przyszłość wolności. Nieliberalna demokracja w Stanach Zjednoczonych i na świecie, Warszawa 2018.

Zalesny J., Goncharov V., Ontological Core of the Social Concept of Global Constitutionalism: A Socio-Philosophical Analysis of Content and Evolution, “Future Human Image” 2019, vol. 12, DOI: https://doi.org/10.29202/fhi/12/12.

ONLINE SOURCES

Burnham W.D., Ferguson T., Americans Are Sick to Death of Both Parties: Why Our Politics Is in Worse Shape Than We Thought, 17.12.2014, https://medium.com/@tiglathpalasar/americans-are-sick-to-death-of-both-parties-why-our-politics-is-in-worse-shape-than-we-thought-b8ce5f1034c6 (access: 12.10.2022).

Centrum Badania Opinii Społecznej, Monolog, dialog czy kłótnia – Polaków rozmowy o polityce, https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2017/K_153_17.PDF (access: 20.6.2022).

De Berlaymont J., Absurd Decisions (Christian Morel), 2.1.2016, https://johannesdeberlaymont.com/2016/01/02/absurd-decisions-christian-morel (access: 28.9.2022).

European Commission, The Corruption Perception Index 2019: The EU Is the Best Performer in the World, https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/newsroom/news/2020/01/27-01-2020-the-corruption-perception-index-2019-the-eu-is-the-best-performer-in-the-world (access: 20.9.2022).

Gallup, Confidence in Institutions, https://news.gallup.com/poll/1597/confidence-institutions.aspx (access: 8.9.2022).

Open Secrets, Cost of Election, https://www.opensecrets.org/overview/cost.php (access: 20.8.2022).




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/sil.2024.33.1.159-178
Date of publication: 2024-03-28 13:58:03
Date of submission: 2022-12-27 15:08:38


Statistics


Total abstract view - 521
Downloads (from 2020-06-17) - PDF - 0

Indicators



Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Anna Młynarska-Sobaczewska, Jacek Zaleśny

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.