Democracy in Global Governance: The Promises and Pitfalls of Transnational Actors

Summary, in English

The participation of transnational actors in global policymaking is increasingly seen as a means to democratize global governance. Drawing

on alternative theories of democracy and existing empirical evidence, we

assess the promises and pitfalls of this vision. We explore how the structuring and operation of international institutions, public-private partnerships, and transnational actors themselves may facilitate expanded

participation and enhanced accountability in global governance. We find

considerable support for an optimistic verdict on the democratizing potential of transnational actor involvement, but also identify hurdles in

democratic theory and the practice of global governance that motivate a

more cautious outlook. In conclusion, we call for research that explores

the conditions for democracy in global governance through a combination

of normative political theory and positive empirical research.

• Author: Magdalena Bexell; Jonas Tallberg; Anders Uhlin
• Department/s: Department of Political Science
• Publishing year: 2010
• Language: English
• Pages: 81-101
• Publication/Series: Global Governance
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 1
• Links: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27800790
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Lynne Rienner Publishers
• Topic: Political Science
• Keywords: accountability; transnational actors; global governance; democracy; participation
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1075-2846