From Elections to Democracy
Building Accountable Government in Hungary and Poland

This study documents the weaknesses of public oversight and participation in policymaking in Hungary and Poland.

Susan Rose-Ackerman (Author)

9780521692151, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 February 2007

286 pages
23 x 15.4 x 1.6 cm, 0.386 kg

'… its descriptive, analytical and prescriptive aims are skilfully achieved. It supplies a trove of detailed factual information and data on the wide range of institutions studied, which will be useful for those without the language skills to access the relevant documentation in the original … of interest to a wide range of readers … provides useful case studies for graduate-level students of public policy in Eastern Europe, and it is a valuable source book for Central European specialists. It also represents an important contribution for policy communities in Central Europe and in those states seeking to devise strategies to support political development in the region.' The Slavonic and East European Review

The countries of Central Europe in the first round for admission to the European Union have all established constitutional, electoral democracies and market economies. However, much remains to be done to achieve fully consolidated democratic states. This study documents the weaknesses of public oversight and participation in policymaking in Hungary and Poland, two of the most advanced countries in the region. It discusses five alternative routes to accountability including European Union oversight, constitutional institutions such as presidents and courts, devolution to lower-level governments, the use of neo-corporatist bodies, and open-ended participation rights. It urges more emphasis on the fifth option, public participation. Case studies of the environmental movement in Hungary and of student groups in Poland illustrate these general points. The book reviews the United States' experience of open-ended public participation and draws some lessons for the transition countries from the strengths and weaknesses of the American system.

1. Policymaking accountability and democratic consolidation
2. Alternative routes to policymaking accountability
3. The legacy of the past
4. External accountability and the European Union
5. Oversight
6. Decentralized political accountability
7. Public participation in policymaking: government procedures
8. Civil society groups: overview
9. Environmental advocacy organizations in Hungary
10. Student and youth organizations in Poland
11. Democratic consolidation and policymaking accountability.

Subject Areas: International law [LB], Economics [KC], Politics & government [JP], Sociology [JHB]