Question

Is the government responsive to ordinary citizens?

Answer 1

Answer: Representative democracy entails governments that are both responsive and responsible. Mair argued that political parties find it increasingly difficult to balance these two tasks. With an increase in international commitments and interdependence, governments cannot always follow the wishes of its citizens but need to be responsible instead. Our study examines the responsiveness–responsibility link from the angle of citizen perceptions. We argue that when governments are seen as responsive they build a “buffer” of support, allowing them to make decisions that are not necessarily responsive but possibly responsible. By being responsive, governments build a reservoir of goodwill, which they can use to survive more difficult periods.

Explanation: We contribute to the debate about the tension between responsiveness and responsibility by empirically assessing the relationship between responsiveness and the leeway that governments have to take responsible, and sometimes unpopular, decisions. Responsiveness and responsibility are complex concepts and may be defined and operationalized in different ways.