Ombudsperson

Origins and Proliferation

The parliamentary ombudsperson has its origins in Sweden, dating back to the period of authoritarian monarchy (1809). At that time, the ombudsman emerged as an instrument of parliamentary control over the executive. In the twentieth century, it has been transformed into a powerful instrument of citizens' control over public administration and the office can be held by women as well as men. The institution spread first to other Scandinavian countries (Finland 1919, Denmark 1955, Norway 1963) and then continued to be adopted around the globe. Today, the institution can be found on all inhabited continents and in about one hundred and twenty countries; it also exists on the subnational and supranational levels (for instance, the European Union).

Because the ombudsperson contributes to protecting citizen's rights and counteracts the potential abuse of power by the executive, the role of the parliamentary ombudsperson is characterized as the defender of citizens and the public watchdog, although designations for the institution vary greatly. In Britain and Sri Lanka, the term used is the parliamentary commissioner for administration; in Argentina, Spain, and other Spanish-speaking countries, the term is Defensor del Pueblo; and in France and francophone Africa, it is Médiateur de la République.

There are several reasons for the successful diffusion around the globe of this concept, including the growth of the public sector, the spread of liberal democratic values, the democratization of former authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, and the democratization of the workplace. The institution of an ombudsperson has been promoted by nonprofit organizations such as the International Ombudsman Institute as well as regional associations. The successful adoption around the globe is also the result of lesson drawing and policy transfer across countries.

The proliferation of the ombudsperson idea around the globe has led to great variation in institutional features and functioning. One can distinguish between ombudspersons operating in the public or private sector. In the public sector, parliamentary ombudspersons have a general jurisdiction on the national or subnational level, and some ombudspersons have highly specialized mandates, appointed by the legislature or the executive. These offices of limited scope might be responsible for a specific agency, policy field, or designated populations (for instance, children). In the private and nonprofit sector, one finds organizational ombudspersons in universities, corporations, the media, and entire fields such as insurance, banking, telecommunication or health care. Similar to their counterparts in government, they provide for informal venues to resolve conflicts and redress grievances. However, their primary task often consists of mediating and reconciling relationships rather than investigating, judging, and formulating recommendations.

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