This article argues that since 1979, in the UK, democratic accountability has been eroded—in spite of the far greater emphasis formally placed upon meeting the ideal of transparent workings of power. First, we look at structural reforms made to the government by Margaret Thatcher and how these led to an attenuation of ministerial accountability. Second, we consider how the increasing role of accountants and management consultants in formulating and delivering government policy subverts the ideal of a disinterested bureaucracy and results in a blurring of private (for-profit) and public interests.

中文翻译：

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新的“公司国家”：公司权力和政治权力的结合以及英国民主问责制的侵蚀

本文认为，自 1979 年以来，在英国，民主问责制已被削弱——尽管正式更加强调实现权力透明运作的理想。首先，我们看看玛格丽特·撒切尔 (Margaret Thatcher) 对政府进行的结构性改革，以及这些改革如何导致部长问责制的减弱。其次，我们考虑了会计师和管理顾问在制定和实施政府政策方面日益重要的作用如何颠覆了公正无私的官僚机构的理想，并导致私人（营利）和公共利益的模糊。