The themes of accountability and political participation within the tradition of democratic theory: theoretical models and landmarks of democratic legitimacy

Abstract

This article aims to address the tradition of democratic theory based on the incidence of the themes of political participation and accountability as well as their gradual recognition as essential components for the improvement of democratic practice, referred to the possibility of building more inclusive and representative political institutions, in which participatory and decision-making processes are more consistent with the affirmation of the public interest. It also aims to highlight the presence of arguments about the role that accountability and political participation play in legitimizing the political decision-making process, intending to contribute to reflection on the need for more rigorous criteria for establishing democratic legitimacy. The article used a qualitative research method, which involved a broad search of the relevant bibliographic material, which was then subjected to analysis and interpretation in order to properly carry out the proposed research. It was then identified, within democratic theory, a growing number of proposals that argue for broadened political participation and that claim the centrality of the accountability of rulers to citizens. It was also possible to assess the relevance of the problem of democratic legitimacy, although more in-depth studies on the subject are needed.