Between Power and Accountability
The Phenomenon of Accountability in Modern Democratic Systems
1st Edition
Published on 11. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
217 pages
978-3-8471-1980-7 (ISBN)
Description
This volume offers an in-depth exploration of how contemporary democracies organise, distribute, and restrain political power through evolving systems of accountability. It presents interdisciplinary perspectives that illuminate the legal, institutional, and societal mechanisms designed to ensure transparency, responsibility, and responsiveness in public life. By analysing both formal procedures and informal norms, the contributions reveal how accountability shapes decision-making, influences political behaviour, and fosters democratic trust. The book also addresses emerging challenges, such as polarisation, technological change, and declining civic engagement, showing how they redefine expectations toward those in power.
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Persons
Editor
Prof. Dr hab. Maciej Serowaniec is Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration and Head of the Department of Constitutional Law of the Faculty of Law and Administration at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland.
He is a principal investigator of the project "Supreme Audit Institutions in the constitutional systems of the Member States of the European Union", funded by the National Science Center (grant No. 2018/02/X/HS5 /00047); participated as a co-ordinator and investigator in the project "Responding to Emerging Dissensus: Supranational Instruments & Norms of European Liberal Democracy (Horizon Europe) and in the research project "BETKOSOL - Better Knowledge for Better Solutions", founded by the European Union's Hercule III Programme). In addition, he is Laureate of the European Court of Auditors Postgraduate Research Grant Programme and Laureate of the Scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for outstanding young scientists.
Dr Wojciech Wloch is Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland.
Dr Katarzyna Jachimowicz is Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland.
Dr Anna Frydrych-Depka is Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland.