Evaluating Trustworthiness, Representation and Political Accountability in New Modes of Governance

Abstract

This chapter looks at the new modes of governance from a normative perspective, assessing their democratic legitimacy. Of the four questions underlining the NEWGOV project, therefore, we concentrate on evaluation, discussing only briefly and at the beginning how new modes of governance emerged, evolved and operate. Under new modes of governance we consider a variety of forms, such as regulatory networks negotiating agreed standards, policy coordination through benchmarking and comparative analysis of policy performance, and independent regulatory authorities whose responsibility is to set standards and define the terms of compliance in particular industrial or service sectors. But we also consider, more generally, the way in which committees and civil-society organizations play a role in European social dialogue and more generally in European governance.