Which reform is commonly proposed to address the democratic deficit in global governance?

• A. Increased secrecy in decision-making.
• B. Expanded transparency in processes.
• C. Reducing citizen participation in deliberations.
• D. Limiting access to information for the public.

Answer: (B)

The issue here is about accountability and legitimacy in global decision-making. When international decisions are made with limited public visibility, people can feel that distant institutions aren’t answerable to citizens, which creates a democratic deficit. Expanding transparency in processes directly addresses this by opening up how decisions are formed and who is involved.

When processes, data, and rationales are accessible, you can watch how policies are crafted, see what interests are shaping outcomes, and examine the bases for judgments. Public meetings, published documents, clear criteria, and opportunities for civil society input all give citizens a better sense of ownership and the ability to hold international actors to account. This visibility helps build trust and legitimacy, because actions are no longer hidden behind procedural opacity.

In contrast, choices that favor secrecy, reduce citizen participation, or limit information access tend to deepen distrust and weaken democratic legitimacy. While some negotiation contexts claim secrecy can aid efficiency, the broad, commonly proposed reform to address the democratic deficit is simply more openness and public scrutiny throughout global governance processes.