Transparency (behavior)
Transparency in politics is a state with free information, participation and accountability in the sense of open communication between the actors of the political system and the citizens. Closely related is the need for administrative transparency and public principle. As a metaphor, the optical transparency is: A transparent object can be seen through.
Basics
In the public political discourse transparency is usually used positively and target various initiatives. It is justified as follows:
Counter-positions
Especially in politics theory and bargaining theory criticism is expressed by the principle of transparency. Too much transparency side effects and problems may occur that may affect the governance and ultimately the government. From a lack of transparency also benefits may accrue.
Legal transparency rules
Many states have enshrined the political transparency as a fundamental right in its Constitution. In Sweden, it has a long tradition: it was introduced in 1766 with the Law on the Freedom of the Press ( Tryckfrihetsförordningen ) and is part of the Swedish Constitution. In more than 65 states have laws and legislative initiatives on freedom of information, referred to in the Federal Republic of Germany Freedom of Information Act. To ensure the transparency of the interests of members of the Bundestag and the Länder parliaments include the disclosure of perquisites, see also parliamentary allowance and MPs bribery. In the city of Hamburg is forcing a law on the disclosure of documents.