What Do We Know and What Do We Need to Know about Mass-Elite Linkages in the Czech Republic? Cover Image

What Do We Know and What Do We Need to Know about Mass-Elite Linkages in the Czech Republic?
What Do We Know and What Do We Need to Know about Mass-Elite Linkages in the Czech Republic?

Author(s): Andrew Lawrence Roberts
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Fakulta sociálních věd
Keywords: Quality of Democracy; Czech Republic; Representation

Summary/Abstract: This paper reviews the literature on democratic quality in the Czech Republic where quality is conceptualized as the strength of links between citizens and governments. The review reveals both positive and negative signs. Some linkages – particularly electoral accountability – work reasonably well, while others – especially mandate responsiveness – do not. In some areas, like policy responsiveness, our knowledge is relatively meagre. Surprisingly, time trends are also diverse, with improvement in some areas but decline in others. Given that much of our knowledge of linkages is fragmentary, the paper thus suggests a number of areas where scholars should conduct additional research.

  • Issue Year: 8/2016
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 31-50
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: English