Political representation and accountability at the web of federative relations

Abstract

This paper aims to identify the challenges and prospects related to political representation and accountability in federal States. Starting from the basic features of federal states, the first objective is to situate the contemporary debate about federalism in the representation, highlighting how the political decentralization can encourage the composition of a frame of government more heterogeneous and plural and the importance of the electoral process to balance the relationship between the entities of federation and preserve the principle of autonomy. In terms of control mechanisms, the article discusses the transversality of the constraints arising from decentralization and its connection with the concept of extended accountability. Moreover, in light of the rapprochement between representatives and constituents and intergovernmental relations, opportunities and threats are identified in terms of responsiveness and accountability. The reflections show that federalism should not be seen as a panacea for the many shortcomings of representative democracy and that its main virtue is to pave the way for the differential treatment of inequalities that originate or are expressed geographically or territorially.