Achieving accountable government
Economic performance does not necessarily improve when under-performing governments are ejected by the voters
Elections are the “instruments of democracy” so long as voters hold incumbents accountable for their performance in office. Periodic elections in which the process of accountability works well should generate electoral incentives for politicians to pursue good economic policy during their term in office. Dani Marinova uncovers little systematic support for this logic. Unemployment was […]
An English Constitutional Convention could benefit both main parties in the face of the UKIP threat
Last week Robert Hazell set out some of the options for a possible UK constitutional convention. Here Meg Russell proposes some more specific answers to the questions that he posed: for example on what a constitutional convention should be tasked to do, timescale, and membership. She suggests that a more limited convention than Labour proposes, to […]
Right-wing citizens in right-wing countries dislike the EU, but right-wing citizens in left-wing countries support European integration
How does the economic context within a country affect support for the European Union? John Garry and James Tilley present results of a study on the way in which the views of right-wing and left-wing citizens are shaped by the economic context within EU states. The findings show that those with right-wing opinions tend to […]
Political attacks on journalists’ sources undermines democracy and must be stopped
The big story in journalism in recent years has been the revelations around phone hacking, and the Leveson inquiry and establishment of a new press regulator which followed. Tim Crook argues that this is far less significant that a recent story that has emerged which showed the police using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) […]
We need to look at other parliamentary democracies for ideas about how to run televised debates
Among a number of political ramifications, the recent UKIP by-election success in Clacton has raised tough questions about the organization of televised debates during the 2015 general election campaign. Nick Anstead looks to Germany and Canada for more inclusive models that the UK could follow. Similar Posts‘Too close to call’? Accounting for satisfaction with party leadership would have […]
Voters in countries with high-visibility welfare states are more ideologically consistent in voting
Voters in highly visible welfare states vote in ways consistent with their preferences on redistribution and state spending. Making spending more visible can heighten the salience of welfare and galvanise its support, but it can also be the kindling of a tax revolt, argues Jane Gingrich. Similar PostsIs citizen participation actually good for democracy?Book Review: […]
David Cameron and Nick Clegg are stretching the British constitution, but our confrontational style of politics looks set to continue
Few expected the Coalition Government formed in the wake of the 2010 General Election to last as long as it has. This has been made possible by a process of what Stephen Barber described as ‘stretching’ of the constitution, disregarding some conventions while altering others. Despite this, our confrontational style of politics doesn’t look set […]
A citizens convention must include a wider range of voices than just resident adult citizens
In the wake of Scotland’s ‘No’ vote in the referendum on Scottish independence, there have been calls for a wider review of the UK’s constitutional arrangements, with particular attention paid to the idea of a citizens convention. David Owen’s contribution to this debate follows on from contributions on the idea and practical form a convention, and focuses […]
All public services are local: why we need smaller, and bigger, local government (in England)
It is well known that the UK is an over-centralised country, with Westminster and Whitehall continuing to hold the vast majority of British decision-making power. Colin Talbot argues that this state of affairs is stifling good policy-making and competent service management at all levels, with institutions like HMRC and the Prisons Service – despite being […]
20 things we learned about democracy in September 2014
September 2014 was a big month for democracy, with party conferences and of course the Scottish independence referendum. Democratic Audit’s Sean Kippin rounds up 20 things that we learned about democracy this month, and talks about the referendum and conferences, but also elections in the House of Lords, human rights, and KFC chicken. Similar PostsThe […]
Democratic Audit's core funding is provided by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Additional funding is provided by the London School of Economics.