Transnational sustainability governance often builds upon standards. Considering that the rise of transnational governance has blurred accountability relations, this article interrogates how and with what consequences a standards development organization (SDO) mobilizes standards for the sake of accountability. Following a partial organization perspective, standards are conceptualized as combinations of organizational elements that enhance accountability both retrospectively and prospectively. A historical case study of the Fairtrade program details the argument and shows how the SDO modified standards aligned with institutional expectations. As the alteration of one organizational element led to a chain reaction, the standards unintentionally transformed from an organizationally lenient tool into a sophisticated blend of organizational elements. Thus, the standards strengthened the accountability of those being governed, while accountability to the public was enhanced by changes in the organizational structure of the SDO. The article contributes to a nuanced understanding of the link between accountability and standards, highlighting their contingency and context dependency.

中文翻译：

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跨国治理中的问责制：长期账户提供中自愿可持续性标准的部分组织

跨国可持续性治理通常建立在标准之上。考虑到跨国治理的兴起已经模糊了问责关系，本文探讨了标准制定组织 (SDO) 为问责而动员标准的方式和后果。遵循部分组织的观点，标准被概念化为组织要素的组合，可追溯性和前瞻性地增强问责制。公平贸易计划的历史案例研究详细说明了这一论点，并显示了 SDO 修改标准如何与机构预期保持一致。由于一个组织要素的改变导致了连锁反应，标准无意中从组织宽松的工具转变为组织要素的复杂混合。因此，这些标准加强了对被治理者的问责制，而对公众的问责制则因 SDO 组织结构的变化而得到加强。这篇文章有助于对问责制和标准之间的联系进行细致入微的理解，强调它们的偶然性和背景依赖性。