How Democratic Is “Governance”? Lessons from Swiss Drug Policy

Bibliographic Data

ID6264288
AuthorsSonja Wälti (Georgetown University), Daniel Küjbler (University of Zurich), Yannis Papadopoulos (0000-0001-5462-3228, University of Lausanne)
Year2004
Volume17
Issue1
Pages83-113
Publication date2004-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGovernance (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0952-1895 • E-ISSN: 1468-0491
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.0952-1895.2004.00238.x
OpenAlexW2160446271
LanguageEN
Citations received30
References cited30

Public action increasingly takes place in self‐organizing networks that are remote from direct governmental control. While these transformations have been subject to scrutiny in regard to their efficiency, less attention has been paid to their democratic quality. This article discusses governance‐induced problems of democracy by isolating two major criticisms. Deliberative criticism argues that governance, rather than allowing for true deliberation in the public space, may lead to a loss of accountability. Participatory criticism stresses that governance impinges on participatory venues. The article discusses these criticisms theoretically and empirically, drawing from research on drug policy in Switzerland. The findings show that the criticisms are relevant, albeit not entirely justified

Accountability · Citizen journalism · Corporate governance · Criticism · Deliberation · Deliberative democracy · Democracy · Economics · Law and economics · Management · Political science · Politics · Scrutiny · Sociology · Subject (documents · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Law · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research

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