Representing Transnational Constituencies in the Global Democratic System

Global governance will be more democratic if transnational communities of shared fate are less likely to be governed behind their backs in harmful ways. Such groups must therefore be identified and empowered as political constituencies capable of influencing decisions that seriously affect them. This paper explores how representation can promote these aims. I propose three functional elements of democratic representation: the formation of representative claims, generated in relationships between representatives and their constituencies; advocacy by representatives within decision-making processes; and publicity that enables the constituency and other actors to critically evaluate representation and decision-making. Taken together, these elements of representation make possible the “mediated inclusion” of constituencies in governance. Drawing on this framework, I propose qualities of actors, decision-making processes and the broader democratic system that can promote or undermine the mediated inclusion of transnational groups.