Citizen ownership of the state: A measure using election promise
implementation score
Abstract
This paper introduces a measure of citizen ownership of the state,
which works with empirical data. The paper defines citizen ownership of
the state as a condition where whatever the majority of citizens want is
implemented. In the present-day large scale state, whatever the majority
of citizens want is expressed in the election promises of the winning
party, alliance or individuals. The paper argues that the level of
implementation of election promises is a measurement of citizen
ownership of the state. It models the authority of a representative
government to a power of attorney. The citizen as principal awards a
power of attorney to the winning party, alliance or individuals as an
agent in their election. In the election, the set of election promises
of the agent becomes the only written part of the power of attorney. The
2008-2012 tenure of US President Barack Obama is used to test how the
methodological approach works with empirical data. The test finds the
citizen ownership of the state in the USA at 70.7 percent and the party
intrusion into the ownership at 29.3 percent during the tenure..
