The Transparency Paradox [Hardcover]

Transparency has become an unquestionable good in modern society, spreading from its origins in governance to most arenas of the modern world. But is it always good? This book turns a critical eye towards transparency, deconstructing its theoretical preconceptions and seeking a more nuanced view of what it means to be transparent.Transparency has become a new norm. States, international organizations, and even private businesses have sought to bolster their legitimacy by invoking transparency in their activities.This growth in popularity was made possible through two interconnected trends: the idea that transparency is inherently good, and that the actual meaning of the term is becoming harder and harder to pin down. Thus far, this has remained undertheorized.The Transparency Paradox is an insightful account of the hidden logic of the ideal of transparency and its legal manifestations. It shows how transparency is a covertly conflicted ideal. The book argues that counter to popular understanding, truth and legitimacy cannot but form a problematic trade-off in transparency practices.The Opacity of Transparency1. The Era of Transparency2. Transparency as a Medium3. The Eye of the BeholderThe Promise of Transparency4. Transparency and Social Life5. Transparency and Power6. Transparency and LawThe Reality of Transparency7. The Discursification of Transparency8. The Future of Transparency: from Representation to Simulation?9. The Truth-Legitimacy TradeoffIda Koivisto,Associate Professor of Public Law, University of HelsinkiIda Koivisto is associate professor of public law at University of Helsinki. She is a member of both The Erik Castr?n Institute of International Law and Human Rights and The Centre of Excellence in the Foundations of European Law and Polity Research in University of Helsinki.