1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910816740203321

Autore

Vibert Frank

Titolo

The rise of the unelected : democracy and the new separation of powers / / Frank Vibert

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cambridge, : Cambridge University Press, 2007

ISBN

1-107-18068-6

1-280-91714-8

9786610917143

0-511-29033-0

0-511-32235-6

0-511-28973-1

0-511-28842-5

0-511-49116-6

0-511-28910-3

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (x, 199 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Disciplina

321.8

Soggetti

Independent regulatory commissions

International agencies

Democracy

Separation of powers

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction; 1. The world of the unelected; 2. The driving forces; 3. The advantages of the new separation of powers; 4. The challenge to conventional democratic theory; 5. Adapting traditional approaches; 6. The new separation of powers and the advent of the informed citizen; 7. Informed citizens and the changing role of traditional institutions; 8. The legitimacy of the new branch; 9. The new separation of powers and the European Union; 10. International institutions: blurring the boundaries; 11 Conclusions: the accountability of the new branch; Appendix: List of unelected bodies referred to in the text; Bibliography; Index.

Sommario/riassunto

Unelected bodies, such as independent central banks, economic



regulators, risk managers and auditors have become a worldwide phenomenon. Democracies are increasingly turning to them to demarcate boundaries between the market and the state, to resolve conflicts of interest and to allocate resources, even in sensitive ethical areas such as those involving privacy or biotechnology. This book examines the challenge that unelected bodies present to democracy and argues that, taken together, such bodies should be viewed as a new branch of government with their own sources of legitimacy and held to account through a new separation of powers. Vibert suggests that such bodies help promote a more informed citizenry because they provide a more trustworthy and reliable source of information for decisions. This book will be of interest to specialists and general readers with an interest in modern democracy as well as policy makers, think tanks and journalists.