Processes and effects of citizen assessment of State action

Claire Launay, 2016

Accountability initiatives, often known as ‘citizen assessment’ are widespread in Latin America. Assessment or ‘citizen control’ has been set up by groups of citizens to make institutions accountable for their performance.

The goal of the online course is to study these control mechanisms and their impact on State action (institutions and policy). We must ask ourselves if such participative democracy mechanisms are effective: does more citizen control lead to better management, and does it make institutions and State actors more responsible? How do citizen actions contribute to the construction of new modes of governance? Our reflection will be heavily based on case studies and videos made between 2012 and 2014 in Latin America by the Institute for Research and Debate on Governance. We will also use some feedback on a French case study.

The course is divided into five sequences: The first is devoted to the origin and motives for these processes. The second shows the diversity of forms of citizen control, as well as common characteristics. In the third sequence we look at one of the actors concerned by citizen control: the local public institution. Finally, the fourth and fifth sequences focus on the effect that citizen assessment has on State action, and in particular the relationship between citizens and public institutions that it implies.

This dossier is not available in English. Please contact us if you want to help us translate part of our contents.

An analysis | 8 case studies

Sources

Livres

Launay-Gama Claire, Pachón Mónica, Claire (éd.), 2011, Practicas de evaluación de la gobernanza en América latina, IRG – Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombie.
Isunza Vera E., et Gurza Lavalle, A. (dir.), 2010, La innovación democrática en América Latina. Tramas y nudos de la representación, la participación y el control social, México, CIESAS-Universidad Veracruzana. 447 p.

Rapports et autres publications

Anizon L., 2015, Le contrôle citoyen de l’activité parlementaire en France, in Launay-Gama C. (coord.), « Contrôle citoyen de l’activité parlementaire », IRG.
IRG, (s.d.),Axe stratégique d’activité : la co-responsabilité du contrôle de l’action publique. Notes IRG.
Launay-Gama C., 2015, « Étude comparée sur le contrôle citoyen de l’activité parlementaire : Colombie, France, Mexique », in Launay-Gama C. (coord.), « Contrôle citoyen de l’activité parlementaire », IRG.
Launay-Gama C., 2015, « Le contrôle citoyen : coresponsabilité ou enjeu de pouvoir ? », Tous responsables, Chroniques de la gouvernance 2015, N°5, IRG, Editions Charles Léopold Mayer, Paris, p.89 - 98
Launay-Gama C. (coord), 2016, Casos de control ciudadano a la transparencia en la acción pública en América Latina. Corporación Transparencia por Colombia.
Pachón M., Escandón M., Gil B.H., 2015, “El control ciudadano de la actividad parlamentaria en Colombia”, in Launay-Gama C. (coord.), 2015, « Contrôle citoyen de l’activité parlementaire », IRG.
Papadopoulos Y. , 2013, « Reddition de comptes », in I. Casillo, R. Barbier, L. Blondiaux, F. Chateauraynaud, J. M. Fourniau, R. Lefebvre, C. Neveu, et D. Salles (dir.), Dictionnaire critique et interdisciplinaire de la participation, Paris, GIS Démocratie et Participation.
Ruiz Guerra A.J., 2015, “El control ciudadano de la actividad parlamentaria en México”, in Launay-Gama C. (coord.), « Contrôle citoyen de l’activité parlementaire », IRG. (Voir la synthèse traduite par C. Launay-Gama)
Ungar E., Ramírez L. Á., Flórez M., Hernández Arbeláez J.M., Bonilla Torres J., 2011, Estrategia de acompañamiento técnico, político y financiero a organizaciones comunitarias de base en el desarrollo de ejercicios locales de control social. Síntesis y lecciones. Fondo de control social, Ciudadanos al cuidado de lo público. Corporación Transparencia por Colombia.

Vidéos

IRG, 2010, Un regard sur le contrôle social en Colombie. Pratiques de contrôle citoyen de l’action publique en Colombie. IRG, Transparencia por Colombia.

An analysis

Processus et effets de l’évaluation citoyenne de l’action publique (Texte de support)