Executive Secrecy and Democratic Politics

The investigation centers on the tension between executive secrecy and the demands of a transparent democracy within parliamentary systems. It explores how parliamentary actors in Germany navigate this conflict, particularly through case studies on intelligence agency secrecy and Public Private Partnerships. The analysis reveals that while justifications for secrecy based on necessity are contentious, democratic processes for legitimizing such secrecy are essential. Ultimately, the book emphasizes the precarious nature of legitimizing executive secrecy, highlighting the need for ongoing scrutiny and validation.