What Is an Ombudsperson? Global Diffusion, International Standardization, and Institutional Diversification

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6349727
AutoresNorman J Dolan, Norman Dolan (University of Victoria, autor de correspondencia), Colin J Bennett (0000-0002-1503-8584, University of Victoria)
Año2019
Volumen17
Número4
Páginas370-390
Fecha de publicación2019-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPolitical Studies Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1478-9299 • E-ISSN: 1478-9302
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1478929918807972
OpenAlexW2900083978
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas26

The global diffusion of administrative institutions such as the Ombudsperson office provides clues into wider questions of democratic development. Explanations of institutional diffusion tend to assume, however, that the essential character of the institution remains relatively stable. While the office of the Ombudsperson has become a potent symbol of administrative fairness and independence in defense of the individual against the powerful public agency or corporation, we show that the essential identity of this office has changed over time. As the number of agencies calling themselves ombudsmen has proliferated, the number of functions performed have diversified, shaping public perceptions and expectations. The article describes this pattern of institutional diversification into a widespread network of classical, executive, organizational, and advocacy ombudspersons. The institutional proliferation has led to processes of institutional standardization, and an increasing motivation to defend the ombudsman “brand” to justify its status and distinguish its place within different political and administrative systems

Agency (philosophy · Business · Civil society · Corporation · Democracy · Diversification (marketing strategy · Institution · Institutional theory · Political science · Politics · Public institution · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Standardization · Human Rights and Development · Judicial and Constitutional Studies · Law · Ombudsman and Human Rights · Public Administration · Marketing