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OPENNESS, TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRACY – THE NORWEGIAN MODEL Professor Tom Christensen, University of Oslo Presentation at the 21st Annual Conference of Library and Research Services for Parliaments, Oslo, August 10, 2005. 1. WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?
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OPENNESS, TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRACY – THE NORWEGIAN MODEL Professor Tom Christensen, University of Oslo Presentation at the 21st Annual Conference of Library and Research Services for Parliaments, Oslo, August 10, 2005
1. WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? • A. INDIRECT DEMOCRACY – POPULAR MANDATE TO ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES • Election or parliamentary channel • PRECONDITIONS FOR POPULAR INFLUENCE THROUGH ELECTIONS: • BROAD POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN SELECTING POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES • Will secure varied input to the system
CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN ELECTION RESULTS AND REPRESENTATION • Representativeness important • Varies considerably between presidental, Westminster and non-Westminster system • POLITICAL EXECUTIVES ABLE TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES • Control of the administrative apparatus • Different obstacles to implementation?
B. DIRECT DEMOCRACY • REFERENDUMS – WHETHER CONNECTED TO ELECTIONS OR NOT • COLLECTIVE EFFORTS THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS • Interest groups through corporate channel • Lobbying – ad hoc, more single cases • INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS DIRECTLY TOWARDS CIVIL SERVICE
2. OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY IN A DEMOCRACY • A. GENERAL FEATURES • INFORMATION IS THE CENTRAL ISSUE • Freedom of information act • Should be objective and easy accessible • INFORMATION IS A CRUCIAL PRECONDITION FOR POPULAR PARTICIPATION • INFORMATION ALSO CRUCIAL FOR INFLUENCING PEOPLE
B. IN THE ELECTION CHANNEL • EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES • E-government, online access improves potential for information • How much and by whom will this information be consumed? • Media important in selecting, defining and discussing information
EASY ACCESS TO POLITICAL PARTIES AND REPRESENTATIVES • How about their capacity to inform? • Will political information be more biased and partisan? • What characterize people seeking information? • HOW DO PEOPLE USE THE INCREASING VOLUME OF INFORMATION THEY GET?
C. THROUGH OTHER CHANNELS • BROAD INFORMATION IMPORTANT FOR REFERENDUMS • OPENNESS IMPORTANT FOR INTEGRATED PARTICIPATION FROM INTEREST GROUPS • ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY GIVE LOBBY GROUPS BETTER CONDITIONS • TRANSPARENCY IMPORTANT PRECONDITION OF INDIVIDUAL CONTACT
3. A NORWEGIAN MODEL? • MORE A SCANDINAVIAN ONE: • PARLIAMENT OPEN AND TRANSPARENT • Easy to get information, easy to contact political representatives, few obstacles • Question hours, scrutiny and investigations • STRONG ACCESS FOR INTEREST GROUPS • Tight formal collaboration with authorities • STRONG MEDIA SCRUTINY
4. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MODERN REFORMS • A. MAIN FEATURES OF NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT • LESS EMPHASIS ON THE CITIZENSHIP ROLE • THE STATE AS A SERVICE PROVIDER • Competition and choice • MORE FRAGMENTED STATE • Less political control from Parliament and political executives
B. EFFECTS FOR OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY • OPTIMISTIC VIEW: • PUBLIC AUTHORITIES MORE PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED • WILL THEREFORE FURTHER • More openness and transparency • Actively give more information as a basis of choice and evaluation
PESSIMISTIC VIEW: • LESS ACCESS AND MORE SECRECY • Related to contracts and business secrets • MORE DEMANDING FOR PEOPLE TO SEEK, RECEIVE AND HANDLE INFORMATION • Information overload, even though peoples’ education and competence is increasing • The ones with most social and political resources will prevail, creating biases • High ideals problematic to fullfill