The ‘double democratic deficit’. Parliamentary accountability and the use of force under international auspices

Abstract:

The accountability of governments to their citizens for the deployment of troops, either internally or externally, has traditionally been through their parliament - thereby subscribing to the internationally recognised principle of democratic control of armed forces and the security sector. Cynics might suggest that governments declare war, citizens go to war and parliaments can only approve the declaration. This work goes behind the cynicism to explore the double democratic deficit arising when nation states participate in activities under the auspices of international security forces such as the UN and NATO.

The book is organised in six parts. The first part sets out the analytical framework for the discussion. Part two addresses the general context with a chapter on key frameworks, issues and priorities for improving democratic oversight of internationalised security policies, and another which focuses on the use of international force under the aegis of the UN and NATO. Both of these institutions feature in the following chapters. Parts three, four and five look at the UN, NATO and EU contexts respectively. Each section explores the general and specific aspects of parliamentary accountability for the use of force by the institutions. The concluding part offers some signposts towards a reduction of the double democratic deficit but affirms that improvements are possible.

The book will interest scholars, students, policy researchers and policy makers in the fields of international relations and security issues.

Hans Born and Heiner Hänggi are based at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).

• Primary Source

Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) http://www.dcaf.ch/

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