In Democratic Accountability, Leif Lewin examines these reasons and argues that they are unconvincing. He makes his case by describing and analyzing counterexamples in seven cases, including the prevention of a communist takeover in Europe after World War II, the European Union's preventing another European war, and Margaret Thatcher's taming of the bureaucracy in Britain. In a staunch defense of the possibility for meaningful and profound democratic decision making, Lewin finds that, in fact, not only do political leaders exert a good measure of control and therefore can be assigned responsibility, but the meaning of the functioning democracy is that the people hold their leaders accountable.

1 Introduction: The Politics of Blame Avoidance

2 History is Not Predetermined

3 Nation-States Need Not Go to War

4 Globalization Has not Wiped Out the Freedom to Choose

5 Power-Sharing Does Not Exclude Accountability

6 Implementation May Well Be Immaculate

7 Consequences May Well Be as Intended

8 Action Can Be Meaningful Even if Irrational

9 Conclusion: The Necessity for Choice

Notes

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

Index