From the autonomy of mandate towards accountability. A conceptual approach to the mechanisms of democratic representation

Abstract

This paper aims to review the notion of democratic representation under the light of the latest interpretations emerged from the sociology and political science fields. For doing so, I consider theoretical and conceptual aspects plus the most relevant historical experiences that have happened after the emergence of the modern conception of democratic representation. I equally consider the current debates on the issue affecting democracies. The arguments are presented in two parts. The first one, divided in four sub-sections, shows the transition of the pre-modern notions and forms of representation to the modern ones by the end of the eighteen century. The second part, divided in four sections as well, analyzes the representation phenomenon from the notions and institutions that sustain modern democracies. In this second part, are also considered the latest debates on the quality of the functioning of the democratic institutions, the strengthening of the intermediation and the mechanisms of accountability.