Move Over Daniel We Need Some “Accountability Space”

Authors

Melvin J. Dubnick, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Professor Flinders makes a strong case that our obsession with accountability has turned “problematic” and even “pathological”. While agreeing with the gist of the argument, I contend that the essence of the problem is more ontological than political. What we require is a radical “reframing” that highlights the pervasive role accountability relationships play in governance— that is, an approach that would shift attention to the alteration of ongoing governance arrangements and relationships that occurs with each reformist effort to “enhance” or “improve” accountability. Governance takes place within accountability spaces, and we need to give priority to research that maps that space as a first step toward understanding the nature and potential of accountable governance.

Department

Political Science

Publication Date

8-2011

Journal Title

Administration & Society

Publisher

Sage Publications

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1177/0095399711424569

Document Type

Article

Recommended Citation

Dubnick, M. J. (2011) ‘Move Over Daniel: We Need Some “Accountability Space”’, Administration & Society, 43(6), pp. 704–716. doi: 10.1177/0095399711424569.

Rights

© 2011 SAGE Publications