Legitimacy Beyond the State? : Re-examining the Democratic Credentials of Transnational Actors

Combining case studies with normative theory, this book analyzes the democratic credentials of transnational actors participating in global governance, ranging from corporations and philanthropic foundations to NGOs and social movements. This leads to innovative interpretations of democratic legitimacy in a transnational context. The democratic deficit in contemporary global governance arrangements is a matter of increasing political and scholarly concern. The participation of transnational actors, such as civil society groups and corporations, in global governance is often put forward as a solution to this democratic deficit. However, most research into the democratic aspects of transnational actor participation in global governance has focused on the democratic qualities of the global governance arrangement at large -- rather than specifically on the participating transnational actors. This book seeks to redress the balance and draws on case studies on the democratic legitimacy of different kinds of transnational actors, ranging from corporations and philanthropic foundations to non-governmental organizations, social movements, and diaspora groups. Combining normative democratic theory and empirical research into the legitimacy of transnational actors, the book offers innovative interpretations of democratic legitimacy in a transnational context "The democratic deficit in contemporary global governance arrangements is a matter of increasing political and scholarly concern. The participation of transnational actors, such as civil society groups and corporations, in global governance is often put forward as a solution to this democratic deficit. However, most research into the democratic aspects of transnational actor participation in global governance has focused on the democratic qualities of the global governance arrangement at large 6 rather than specifically on the participating transnational actors. This book seeks to redress the balance and draws on case studies on the democratic legitimacy of different kinds of transnational actors, ranging from corporations and philanthropic foundations to non-governmental organizations, social movements, and diaspora groups. Combining normative democratic theory and empirical research into the legitimacy of transnational actors, the book offers innovative interpretations of democratic legitimacy in a transnational context"--Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Democratic Credentials of Transnational Actors: An Introduction....Pages 3-15 Democratic Legitimacy of Transnational Actors: Mapping Out the Conceptual Terrain....Pages 16-37 Front Matter....Pages 39-39 Democratic Legitimacy of Transnational Corporations in Global Governance....Pages 41-63 Democratic Legitimacy of Philanthropic Foundations: US Grant-Making in the Middle East....Pages 64-84 Good Morals or Good Business? NGO Advocacy and the World Bank’s 10th IDA....Pages 85-109 Transnational Social Movements and Democratic Legitimacy....Pages 110-129 Diaspora Groups, Transnational Activism, and Democratic Legitimacy....Pages 130-150 Front Matter....Pages 151-151 Democratic Credentials or Bridging Mechanisms? Constituents, Representatives, and the Dual Politics of Democratic Representation....Pages 153-172 Why Adding Democratic Values is Not Enough for Global Democracy....Pages 173-193 Conclusion: Transnational Actors and Global Democracy....Pages 194-213 Back Matter....Pages 214-222