Literature Review

To help us shape our work on power and influence, we commissioned the Democratic Audit to undertake a literature review. 

The main purpose of this review is to shape our plans for a wider work programme on the distribution of power and influence and how it impacts on democracy and the democratic process in the UK and Ireland.

The Carnegie UK Trust's interest in this issue centres on a belief that a healthy democracy requires a closer relationship between representative democracy and newer forms of participation and public engagement, as well as a deeper understanding of the other forces in society which shape decision making.

To better understand this, we propose a further examination of the distribution of power, and how it impacts on how decisions are made.  This means going beyond the political realm, and looking at how power is exercised in areas such as the distribution of wealth and assets and control over the economy, the role of the media, the judiciary, the military, the role of celebrities, the influence of civil society organisations, and the impact of international factors, such as the EU and the World Bank.

A version of the literature review was published by the Democratic Audit.  To download, click attachment below.

In addition to a literature review the Trust commissioned four case studies of recent decisions in a variety of policy fields and the ways in which different groups attempted to influence those decisions. To learn more about the case studies click here.

For further information, contact raji@carnegieuk.org.