Relational Accountability

Accountability is a central but vague term in development; there is little consensus on what it is or on the best way to achieve it. In this insightful new book, Joy Moncrieffe argues that traditional interpretations of accountability obscure relationships, power dynamics, structures and processes. The relational view, in contrast, seeks to understand the ways in which people perform in their roles as social actors, and how the quality of relationships influences the character of accountability. Relational Accountability uses case studies from Jamaica, Haiti and Uganda to argue that accountability is much more than a managerial concept; it is deeply social and political. The result is a unique, coherent perspective that will both explain and debunk this important concept.