The uncertain relationship between transparency and accountability

TLDR

Transparency is often assumed to generate accountability, yet its effectiveness is uncertain because shame may not affect all actors and truth does not always lead to justice. The article investigates which types of transparency produce which types of accountability and under what conditions, challenging the assumption that transparency automatically yields accountability. The authors conceptualise transparency as either clear or opaque and accountability as either soft or hard. The study proposes that transparency and accountability can be categorized into two distinct variants.

Abstract

The concepts of transparency and accountability are closely linked: transparency is supposed to generate accountability. This article questions this widely held assumption. Transparency mobilises the power of shame, yet the shameless may not be vulnerable to public exposure. Truth often fails to lead to justice. After exploring different definitions and dimensions of the two ideas, the more relevant question turns out to be: what kinds of transparency lead to what kinds of accountability, and under what conditions? The article concludes by proposing that the concept can be unpacked in terms of two distinct variants. Transparency can be either ‘clear’ or ‘opaque’, while accountability can be either ‘soft’ or ‘hard’.