Advancing the Understanding of Accountability Processes in Collaborative Governance: Lessons from Research on ‘Agencification’

Abstract

Collaborative governance and the delegation of tasks to independent agencies are among the most important governance trends in recent years. However, these trends have given rise to separate literatures that do not engage with each other. Research on collaborative governance shows the complexity of accountability relations and uncovers the factors that undermine accountability. However, it fails to consider some relevant findings from research on ‘agencification’ that should be incorporated into its research agenda. Governance scholars should consider more thoughtfully that, for a variety of reasons, accountability holders may be less watchful than expected, but also that accountable behavior can be more attractive than expected, again for diverse reasons. Policy-makers’ strategies for avoiding accountability have been emphasized, but to advance the understanding of real-world accountability processes, we must consider that control deficits can be caused by the passivity of accountability ‘forums’, while policy-makers may find their accountability valuable.

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