Western countries have experienced a growing demand for accountability as fundamental element for democratization of the State. This demand has occasioned a case for transparency of public institutions and public policies implemented by the State. This defense, in turn, aims to make governments accountable to the public. The objective of this article is to formulate a critical perspective for what we name as "policy of transparency"in favor that we name "policy of publicity". This last aproach aims to provide the normative argument for the concept of the accountability, to deepen democracy and strengthen the process of public management.
transparency; publicity; accountability; democracy
