Mark Bovens is a Professor at the Utrecht University School of Governance. He is a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences and chairs its Social Science Council. He has published more than twenty monographs and edited volumes in the area of politics, government, and public policy. His publications include The Oxford Handbook of Public Accountability (co-edited with Robert E. Goodin and Thomas Schillemans, OUP, 2014), The Real World of EU Accountability (co-edited with Deirdre Curtin and Paul 't Hart, OUP, 2010), and Success and Failure in Public Governance (Edward Elgar, 2001).Anchrit Wille is Associate Professor at Leiden University's Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. Her research focuses on executive politics, accountability, democratic governance, public policy, and citizen participation. She has (co)-authored many articles and books about political participation, political-administrative relationships, EU governance, and the European Commission. Her publications include The Normalization of the European Commission (OUP, 2013).

A fascinating book by Mark Bovens and Anchrit Wille, Diploma Democracy, shows that what they call political meritocracy is advancing across the rich world.

• PART I: CONCEPTS AND CONTEXTS; PART II: CONTOURS; PART III: CONSEQUENCES

Mark Bovens is a Professor at the Utrecht University School of Governance. He is a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences and chairs its Social Science Council. He has published more than twenty monographs and edited volumes in the area of politics, government, and public policy. His publications include The Oxford Handbook of Public Accountability (co-edited with Robert E. Goodin and Thomas Schillemans, OUP, 2014), The Real World of EU Accountability (co-edited with Deirdre Curtin and Paul 't Hart, OUP, 2010), and Success and Failure in Public Governance (Edward Elgar, 2001).Anchrit Wille is Associate Professor at Leiden University's Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. Her research focuses on executive politics, accountability, democratic governance, public policy, and citizen participation. She has (co)-authored many articles and books about political participation, political-administrative relationships, EU governance, and the European Commission. Her publications include The Normalization of the European Commission (OUP, 2013).

A fascinating book by Mark Bovens and Anchrit Wille, Diploma Democracy, shows that what they call political meritocracy is advancing across the rich world.

• PART I: CONCEPTS AND CONTEXTS; PART II: CONTOURS; PART III: CONSEQUENCES