Democracy is a political system that has the features of political participation as well as political representation. Through a proper electoral procedure, the citizens delegate authority to few members who will be political actors representing their constituents. As Hanna Pitkin would say that as political actors, 'they speak, advocate, symbolize, and act on behalf of others in the political arena.' The elected representatives are agents who will make and determine how policies are to be implemented.
This thesis focuses on Nigeria, a democratic country. There have been experiences of political representatives not properly representing the interest and needs of the people in the policy making. The virtues of political representation are often lacking in many countries. Giving the fact that political representatives have been authorized to act on behalf of their constituents, they are also to be held accountable for their duties as political actors. The thesis addresses the question of what should be the standard for evaluating political representatives, ethical perspectives of democratic representation, the institutional evaluative framework, and the use of the virtues of representation to evaluate democratic representatives.
This study assess to what extent the political actors represent their constituents. It identifies key barriers to effective political representation in Nigeria which includes corruption, limited civic education, deficient electoral design and voters' apathy. The thesis recommend policy interventions to strengthen political representation in Nigeria, the need for political representative to build truest in the political system, promoting citizens' political participation as well as enhancing accountability mechanism for representatives.
The thesis ultimately calls for balancing the role of effective governance with ethical consideration; a holistic to evaluation that involves a practical application of the institutional and ethical evaluative frameworks.
Anotace v angličtině
Democracy is a political system that has the features of political participation as well as political representation. Through a proper electoral procedure, the citizens delegate authority to few members who will be political actors representing their constituents. As Hanna Pitkin would say that as political actors, 'they speak, advocate, symbolize, and act on behalf of others in the political arena.' The elected representatives are agents who will make and determine how policies are to be implemented.
This thesis focuses on Nigeria, a democratic country. There have been experiences of political representatives not properly representing the interest and needs of the people in the policy making. The virtues of political representation are often lacking in many countries. Giving the fact that political representatives have been authorized to act on behalf of their constituents, they are also to be held accountable for their duties as political actors. The thesis addresses the question of what should be the standard for evaluating political representatives, ethical perspectives of democratic representation, the institutional evaluative framework, and the use of the virtues of representation to evaluate democratic representatives.
This study assess to what extent the political actors represent their constituents. It identifies key barriers to effective political representation in Nigeria which includes corruption, limited civic education, deficient electoral design and voters' apathy. The thesis recommend policy interventions to strengthen political representation in Nigeria, the need for political representative to build truest in the political system, promoting citizens' political participation as well as enhancing accountability mechanism for representatives.
The thesis ultimately calls for balancing the role of effective governance with ethical consideration; a holistic to evaluation that involves a practical application of the institutional and ethical evaluative frameworks.
Klíčová slova
Political representation, republic, accountability, democracy, constituents, evaluation criterial, transparency, corruption, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), responsibility, virtues of democratic representatives.
Klíčová slova v angličtině
Political representation, republic, accountability, democracy, constituents, evaluation criterial, transparency, corruption, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), responsibility, virtues of democratic representatives.
Rozsah průvodní práce
22,304 characters
Jazyk
AN
Anotace
Democracy is a political system that has the features of political participation as well as political representation. Through a proper electoral procedure, the citizens delegate authority to few members who will be political actors representing their constituents. As Hanna Pitkin would say that as political actors, 'they speak, advocate, symbolize, and act on behalf of others in the political arena.' The elected representatives are agents who will make and determine how policies are to be implemented.
This thesis focuses on Nigeria, a democratic country. There have been experiences of political representatives not properly representing the interest and needs of the people in the policy making. The virtues of political representation are often lacking in many countries. Giving the fact that political representatives have been authorized to act on behalf of their constituents, they are also to be held accountable for their duties as political actors. The thesis addresses the question of what should be the standard for evaluating political representatives, ethical perspectives of democratic representation, the institutional evaluative framework, and the use of the virtues of representation to evaluate democratic representatives.
This study assess to what extent the political actors represent their constituents. It identifies key barriers to effective political representation in Nigeria which includes corruption, limited civic education, deficient electoral design and voters' apathy. The thesis recommend policy interventions to strengthen political representation in Nigeria, the need for political representative to build truest in the political system, promoting citizens' political participation as well as enhancing accountability mechanism for representatives.
The thesis ultimately calls for balancing the role of effective governance with ethical consideration; a holistic to evaluation that involves a practical application of the institutional and ethical evaluative frameworks.
Anotace v angličtině
Democracy is a political system that has the features of political participation as well as political representation. Through a proper electoral procedure, the citizens delegate authority to few members who will be political actors representing their constituents. As Hanna Pitkin would say that as political actors, 'they speak, advocate, symbolize, and act on behalf of others in the political arena.' The elected representatives are agents who will make and determine how policies are to be implemented.
This thesis focuses on Nigeria, a democratic country. There have been experiences of political representatives not properly representing the interest and needs of the people in the policy making. The virtues of political representation are often lacking in many countries. Giving the fact that political representatives have been authorized to act on behalf of their constituents, they are also to be held accountable for their duties as political actors. The thesis addresses the question of what should be the standard for evaluating political representatives, ethical perspectives of democratic representation, the institutional evaluative framework, and the use of the virtues of representation to evaluate democratic representatives.
This study assess to what extent the political actors represent their constituents. It identifies key barriers to effective political representation in Nigeria which includes corruption, limited civic education, deficient electoral design and voters' apathy. The thesis recommend policy interventions to strengthen political representation in Nigeria, the need for political representative to build truest in the political system, promoting citizens' political participation as well as enhancing accountability mechanism for representatives.
The thesis ultimately calls for balancing the role of effective governance with ethical consideration; a holistic to evaluation that involves a practical application of the institutional and ethical evaluative frameworks.
Klíčová slova
Political representation, republic, accountability, democracy, constituents, evaluation criterial, transparency, corruption, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), responsibility, virtues of democratic representatives.
Klíčová slova v angličtině
Political representation, republic, accountability, democracy, constituents, evaluation criterial, transparency, corruption, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), responsibility, virtues of democratic representatives.
Zásady pro vypracování
WHAT SHOULD BE THE STANDARD FOR EVALUATING POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES?
Democracy is a political system that has the features of political participation as well as political representation. Through a proper electoral procedure, the citizens delegate authority to few members who will be political actors representing their constituents. As Hanna Pitkin would say that as political actors, ‘they speaks, advocate, symbolize, and act on behalf of others in the political arena.’ The elected representatives are agents who will make and determine how policies are to be implemented.
Nigeria and some other African countries are democratic states. There have been experiences of political representatives not properly representing the interest and needs of the people in the policy making. The elected representative prioritises their personal gain over the goodwill of their constituents. Giving the fact that political representatives have been authorized to act on behalf of their constituents, they are also to be held accountable for their duties as political actors. Thus, here comes the question: what should be the standard for evaluating political representatives? What is the proper activity of representatives? An understanding and possible answer to these questions would perhaps enable us to understand the institution and functions of political representation.
This study will assess to what extent the political actors represent their constituents. It will identify key barriers to effective political representation in Nigeria and some other countries which includes corruption, limited civic education, religion, deficient electoral design and voters’ apathy. The thesis will recommend policy interventions to strengthen political representation in Nigeria and other African democratic states, promoting citizens’ political participation as well as enhancing accountability mechanism for representatives.
Zásady pro vypracování
WHAT SHOULD BE THE STANDARD FOR EVALUATING POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES?
Democracy is a political system that has the features of political participation as well as political representation. Through a proper electoral procedure, the citizens delegate authority to few members who will be political actors representing their constituents. As Hanna Pitkin would say that as political actors, ‘they speaks, advocate, symbolize, and act on behalf of others in the political arena.’ The elected representatives are agents who will make and determine how policies are to be implemented.
Nigeria and some other African countries are democratic states. There have been experiences of political representatives not properly representing the interest and needs of the people in the policy making. The elected representative prioritises their personal gain over the goodwill of their constituents. Giving the fact that political representatives have been authorized to act on behalf of their constituents, they are also to be held accountable for their duties as political actors. Thus, here comes the question: what should be the standard for evaluating political representatives? What is the proper activity of representatives? An understanding and possible answer to these questions would perhaps enable us to understand the institution and functions of political representation.
This study will assess to what extent the political actors represent their constituents. It will identify key barriers to effective political representation in Nigeria and some other countries which includes corruption, limited civic education, religion, deficient electoral design and voters’ apathy. The thesis will recommend policy interventions to strengthen political representation in Nigeria and other African democratic states, promoting citizens’ political participation as well as enhancing accountability mechanism for representatives.
Seznam doporučené literatury
Jacobs, Lawrence R. and Robert Y. Shapiro, 2000. Politicians Don’t Pander: Political Manipulation and the Loss of Democratic Responsiveness, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Mill, Stuart John. 1861. Consideration on Representative Government. London: Parker, Son, and Bourn.
Pitkin, Hanna Fenichel, 1967. The Concept of Representation, Berkeley: University of California.
Rawls, John. 1971. A Theory of Justice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
Rehfeld, Andrew, 2005. The Concept of Constituency: Political Representation, Democratic Legitimacy and Institutional Design, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
–––, 2006. "Towards a General Theory of Political Representation,” The Journal of Politics, 68: 1–21.
Rousseau, Jean-Jacque. 1990. Discourse of the Origin and the Foundation of Inequality among Men, in Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant, Edited by Jerome B. Schneewind. New York: Cambridge University Press. (Excerpts from)
Saward, Michael (ed.), 2000. Democratic Innovation: Deliberation, Representation and Association, London: Routledge.
Seznam doporučené literatury
Jacobs, Lawrence R. and Robert Y. Shapiro, 2000. Politicians Don’t Pander: Political Manipulation and the Loss of Democratic Responsiveness, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Mill, Stuart John. 1861. Consideration on Representative Government. London: Parker, Son, and Bourn.
Pitkin, Hanna Fenichel, 1967. The Concept of Representation, Berkeley: University of California.
Rawls, John. 1971. A Theory of Justice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
Rehfeld, Andrew, 2005. The Concept of Constituency: Political Representation, Democratic Legitimacy and Institutional Design, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
–––, 2006. "Towards a General Theory of Political Representation,” The Journal of Politics, 68: 1–21.
Rousseau, Jean-Jacque. 1990. Discourse of the Origin and the Foundation of Inequality among Men, in Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant, Edited by Jerome B. Schneewind. New York: Cambridge University Press. (Excerpts from)
Saward, Michael (ed.), 2000. Democratic Innovation: Deliberation, Representation and Association, London: Routledge.