Edustuksellisuus ja deliberaatio eduskunnan valiokuntatyöskentelyssä

Författare

• Jenni Rinne

Abstract

Modern democratic representation is best understood through the working of political parties which tend to influence the role of talk in parliaments. Based on the interviews of 17 current MPs in Eduskunta, two civil servants and one former MP, this study examines how the common notion of parliamentary committees being the ‘true arenas’ of deliberative talk relates to the understanding of MPs’ role as party delegates and trustees in the context of committee work. On the theoretical side, the article considers the more recent discussion regarding deliberative democratic theory and representation in general. The interviews show that deliberation described as reciprocal argumentation, opening up of new standpoints and changing of opinions is somewhat subordinate to the logics of ‘party democracy’. However, not all discussions and negotiations necessarily follow the government vs. opposition division as there are also examples where the committee ‘acts together’ and aims at compromises.