Monomaniacs or Schizophrenics

Responsible Governance and the EU's Independent Agencies

Bibliographic Data

ID6345567
AuthorsGarrath Williams (0000-0002-6583-8133, Lancaster University, corresponding author)
Year2005
Volume53
Issue1
Pages82-99
Publication date2005-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0032-3217 • E-ISSN: 1467-9248
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-9248.2005.00518.x
OpenAlexW1858370589
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited17

This paper examines the creation of independent agencies within the EU, such as the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Central Bank (ECB). Majone and others have argued the case for European regulatory agencies. Such agencies can provide for continuity, expertise, accountability and effective authority – in short, an institutionalisation of responsibility. Against this optimism, I argue that a dilemma of institutional design naturally arises from the agencies' situation in the EU. On the one side, we risk creating powerful agencies that institutionalise monomania – that is, agencies that single-mindedly and all-too-effectively pursue narrow agendas, inadequately checked by other bodies. On the other, we are also likely to encounter relatively impotent agencies which institutionalise schizophrenia — that is, agencies that must scout around for audience and support, and hence are unable to act effectively

Accountability · Agency (philosophy · Business · Corporate governance · Dilemma · Institutionalisation · Optimism · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Accounting · European and International Law Studies · European Union Policy and Governance · Finance · Global Financial Regulation and Crises · Law · Psychology · Public Administration · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub