
The aim of this contribution is to analyse the mutating nature of the function of parliamentary scrutiny in relationship with the historical evolution of notion of ‘responsibility’. In particular, by building on the notion of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI; developed within the science policy framework at EU level), this text will propose a definition of Responsible Policy Making as a byproduct of the integration of the RRI approach within legislative assemblies. Parliaments are indeed facing important transformations. The challenge is to understand the competing forces animating these transformations and the potential outcomes. In this perspective, an important role is played by the evolution of the parliamentary function of scrutiny – particularly, in the form of public policy evaluation – as interpreted through the lenses of RRI: a concept that echoes various interpretations of responsibility which are relevant for the legislative process. By framing the evolution of parliamentary scrutiny as the path through which legislative assemblies could leverage a novel attitude towards the meaning of ‘responsibility’ and a better capacity to deal with socio-political complexity, we aim to show how such a process could eventually improve both parliaments’ accountability and public policies' quality. Section 2 presents an overview of the evolution, over the last two centuries, of the parliamentary function of oversight; section 3 presents the main concepts and implications of RRI, highlighting the most relevant aspects from a policy perspective. In section 4 a definition of responsible policy making is proposed, alongside a reflection upon the evolving notion of responsibility. Concluding remarks follow… (segue)
30/01/2023
09/12/2022
28/10/2022
28/03/2022
02/02/2022
17/01/2022
12/02/2021
18/01/2021
13/11/2020
12/10/2020
17/06/2020
01/06/2020
18/05/2020
04/05/2020
24/04/2020
10/04/2020
27/03/2020
10/04/2020
25/10/2019
27/09/2019
15/04/2019
25/03/2019
14/01/2019
14/12/2018
16/11/2018
09/11/2018
14/09/2018
03/09/2018
22/06/2018
23/02/2018
27/11/2017
02/10/2017