VPSo Arrests Spark Calls for Reform and Accountability in Government Agencies - TRENDS

The potential for grassroots movements to influence perceptions and mobilize citizen action becomes evident, drawing parallels to how the Watergate scandal prompted a nationwide reassessment of trust ingovernment (Williamson et al., 2020). Escalating protests signal The problems of information asymmetry, ex post evaluation bias, and “externalism” that plague elections make it necessary to think of innovative new social accountability mechanisms that can improve governmentaccountabilityin a much more direct and targeted fashion. Her call to “hold governmentagenciesaccountable” implies that enforcement may be insufficient or inconsistent, and that oversight should be strengthened so agencies cannot fail to protect people from harmful practices.