Offentlighed i det offentlige. Om historiens magt
(
Openness in the Administration. On the Power of History)

Offentlighed i det offentlige. Om historiens magt by Tim Knudsen was published in August 2003.

137 pages, Dkr. 145
Order at Aarhus University Press: www.unipress.dk or +45 8942 5370
 

Danish politicians often claim that we have great openness and transparency in our administration. Still, citizens frequently encounter barriers and problems when they want to check up on the authorities.

This is documented in Openness in the Administration. On the Power of History. The book challenges the myth that Denmark is a model country for openness in administration. Open administration legislation has stagnated for years, and the authorities are not always helpful and open. Historically, the Danish schism between delusion and reality can be traced as far back as absolutism, which is our tradition of secret administration was founded. We are stalled, and on paper even Albania, Moldavia and other East European countries are about to pass us. In some areas, even the EU is more open.

In Denmark, we typically approach openness from the perspective of the individual, which often creates a blocking dilemma between protecting the individual from the authorities and from prying fellow citizens. We forget that in terms of democracy, individual citizensÂ’ dealings with the authorities are not important. What really counts is the major political decisions made by the politicians. It is possible to protect the individual and secure better insight into major, common decisions.

 


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