Broadening the notion of democratic accountability

ENRIQUE PERUZZOTTI

Polity

Palgrave Journals

Año: 2012 vol. 44 p. 625 - 642

0032-3497

The article focuses on a set of democratic innovations that were introduced in recent years in Latin America that involve the participation of civil society as an active agent of accountability. Participatory innovations are redefining the traditional scenario in which the practice of democratic representation takes place, adding novel arenas and mechanisms engaging actors that traditionally were not actively involved in accountability politics. The proliferation of alternative means for holding governments accountable defies a view of democratic representation that continues to view elections as the quintessential mechanism of citizen control.  The conventional way of thinking the role of citizens in the practice of democratic accountability --which was largely modeled around the act of electoral delegation?is in need of reconceptualization to make room for other ways of citizen control beyond the sporadic act of voting.