Overview
Non-elected actors, such as non-governmental organizations and celebrity activists, present themselves as representatives of others to audiences of decision-makers, such as state leaders, the European Union, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization. These actors are increasingly included in the deliberation and decision-making processes of such institutions. To take one well-known example, the non-governmental organization, Oxfam, presses decision-makers and governments for fair trade rules on behalf of the world's poor. What entitles such 'self-appointed representatives' to speak and act for the poor? As The Economist asked, 'Who elected Oxfam?'. Montanaro claims that such actors can, and should, be conceptualized as representatives, and that they can - though do not always - represent others in a manner that we can recognize as democratic. However, in order to do so, we must stretch our imaginations beyond the standard normative framework of elections.
Full Product Details
Author: Laura Montanaro (University of Essex)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 15.70cm
, Height: 1.40cm
, Length: 23.50cm
Weight: 0.390kg
ISBN: 9781108419369
ISBN 10: 1108419364
Pages: 178
Publication Date: 07 December 2017
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
Democratic representation isn't what it used to be, and now covers much more than elections. Laura Montanero provides an authoritative and compelling guide to this new landscape of representation. She shows that it doesn't matter that nobody elected Oxfam; but that it matters enormously how Oxfam and other self-appointed representatives behave. Professor John Dryzek, Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance, University of Canberra.
'Democratic representation isn't what it used to be, and now covers much more than elections. Laura Montanaro provides an authoritative and compelling guide to this new landscape of representation. She shows that it doesn't matter that nobody elected Oxfam; but that it matters enormously how Oxfam and other self-appointed representatives behave.' John Dryzek, Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance, University of Canberra `Democratic representation isn't what it used to be, and now covers much more than elections. Laura Montanaro provides an authoritative and compelling guide to this new landscape of representation. She shows that it doesn't matter that nobody elected Oxfam; but that it matters enormously how Oxfam and other self-appointed representatives behave.' John Dryzek, Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance, University of Canberra
Advance praise: 'Democratic representation isn't what it used to be, and now covers much more than elections. Laura Montanero provides an authoritative and compelling guide to this new landscape of representation. She shows that it doesn't matter that nobody elected Oxfam; but that it matters enormously how Oxfam and other self-appointed representatives behave.' John Dryzek, Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance, University of Canberra
Author Information
Laura Montanaro is Lecturer in Political Theory in the Department of Government at the University of Essex, specializing in the gaps between democratic theory and practice, and between democracy's norms and outcomes.
