Reversing delegation? Politicization, de‐delegation, and non‐majoritarian institutions

Elected governments and states have delegated extensive powers to non-majoritarian institutions (NMIs) such as independent central banks regulatory agencies, courts, international trade investment organizations, which become actors in governance. But, far from having resolved the balance between political control governing competence or removed certain issues debate, NMIs faced challenges their legitimacy by elected officials sometimes attempts reverse delegation through “de-delegation”. Our special issue studies politicization of NMIs, then whether, why how it leads de-delegation reducing formal increasing controls over them. In this article, we examine analyze de-delegation, has developed, affected de-delegation. We underline not only institutional rules that constrain but also actions themselves relationships with other part multi-level governance systems. find varied, even when strong, introduced widespread long-lasting de-delegation; on contrary, they frequently widened NMIs. Insofar politicians sought curb often preferred use existing non-compliance. Finally, consider wider implications combination lack for broader division unelected democratic accountability.