The European Union: How Democratic Is It?

by Svein S Andersen
The European Union: How Democratic Is It?
Author: Svein S Andersen
Publisher: SAGE
Total Pages: 308
Release: 1996-02-27
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780761951131
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Taking as its starting point the major issues of democracy which are the ongoing concerns of every liberal Western political system, this volume offers a wide-ranging review of democracy in the European Union. It treats the EU as a new type of political system within the tradition of parliamentary democracies, a system which is neither federal nor intergovernmental, and which consequently has unique problems of how to handle democratic requirements. Part One deals with the two major challenges of interest articulation in the EU, political parties and lobbying. The second part discusses how democracy becomes the key element in the linkage between the EU and its member states, focusing on France, Italy and Belgium where the r

The European Union and Democracy Promotion

by Richard Youngs
The European Union and Democracy Promotion
Author: Richard Youngs
Publisher: JHU Press
Total Pages: 217
Release: 2010-10-15
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0801897327
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Richard Youngs is the director of Fride, Madrid, and an associate professor at the University of Warwick. He has authored five books, including Europe㠒ole in Global Politics: A Retreat from Liberal Internationalism --Book Jacket.

Debating the Democratic Legitimacy of the European Union

by Beate Kohler-Koch
Debating the Democratic Legitimacy of the European Union
Author: Beate Kohler-Koch
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Total Pages: 403
Release: 2007-04-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 074257640X
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The discussion about a constitution for the European Union and its rejection by referendum in two of the EU founding member states has once again spurred public and scholarly interest in the democratic quality and potential of the European Union. Debating the Democratic Legitimacy of the European Union brings together distinguished thinkers from law, political science, sociology, and political philosophy to explore the potential for democratically legitimate governance in the European Union. Drawing on different theoretical perspectives and strands from democratic theory, this volume is the first of its kind to overcome the present state of fragmentation in the debate about the conditions and possible remedies for what is often called the "democratic deficit" of the European Union. Among the pressing questions addressed by the contributors are: What future is there for parliamentary democracy in the European Union? Can we observe the evolution of a European public sphere and civil society? Can participatory democracy or deliberative democracy pave the road for a democratically legitimate European Union? Conversations about democracy have engaged the public in a new way since the beginning of the Iraq war, and this volume is the best resource for students and readers who are interested in democracy in the European Union. Contributions by: Rudy B. Andeweg, Katrin Auel, Arthur Benz, Lars-Erik Cederman, Damian Chalmers, Deirdre Curtin, Donatella Della Porta, Klaus Eder, Erik O. Eriksen, Ulrich Haltern, Hubert Heinelt, Doug Imig, Christian Joerges, Beate Kohler-Koch, Christopher Lord, Paul Magnette, Andreas Maurer, Jeremy Richardson, Berthold Rittberger, Rainer Schmalz-Bruns, Michael Th. Greven, Hans-Jörg Trenz, and Armin von Bogdandy

Democracy and Lobbying in the European Union

by Karolina Karr
Democracy and Lobbying in the European Union
Author: Karolina Karr
Publisher: Campus Verlag
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2007
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 3593384124
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Can interest groups and lobbyists arguably undemocratic institutions operate in democratic systems without hindering the people s interests? Karolina Karr s "Democracy and Lobbying in the European Union" explores the role and potential impact of interest groups on democracy, both in theory and practice, in the context of a changing continent. This timely volume explores how the power of interest groups has developed due to the growing distance between elected representatives and the European people and forecasts what this development might mean for the vitality of government."

How to Democratize the European Union-- and why Bother?

by Philippe C. Schmitter
How to Democratize the European Union-- and why Bother?
Author: Philippe C. Schmitter
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 166
Release: 2000
Genre: Law
ISBN: 9780847699056
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A contradictory creation indeed, the European Union has most of the institutions of a modern democracy, yet it does not function as one. Moreover, its growing scope of activity and supranational decision making processes are undermining the legitimacy of democracy in its member states. Much has been written about this double "democratic deficit," but surprisingly little thought has been given to what to do about it--short of drafting and ratifying a new federal constitution. In this provocative book, Philippe C. Schmitter explores both the possibility and the desirability of democratizing the EU. He argues that as a "non-state" and a "non nation" it will have to invent new forms of citizenship, representation, and decisionmaking if it is ever to democratize itself. The author also contends that the timing and political context work against a full-scale constitutionalization of the process. He proposes a number of modest (and some less modest) reforms that could improve the situation in the near future and eventually lead to a genuine Euro-democracy.

Democracy in Europe

by Vivien A. Schmidt
Democracy in Europe
Author: Vivien A. Schmidt
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2006-10-19
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0199266972
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This eagerly awaited volume, from a leading scholar on Europeanization, explores the impact of European integration on national democracies. Focusing on the case studies of France, Britain, Italy, and Germany, this is an exciting contribution to work on the implications of European integration for democratic government.

Citizen Participation in Democratic Europe

by James Organ
Citizen Participation in Democratic Europe
Author: James Organ
Publisher:
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2021-02-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9781786612878
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"This book brings together academics as well as practitioners to give a forward-looking, holistic view of the realities of EU citizen participation across the spectrum of participatory opportunities"--

Direct Democracy in the EU

by Steven Blockmans
Direct Democracy in the EU
Author: Steven Blockmans
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 467
Release: 2019-01-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1786609991
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The European Union is grappling with a democracy problem. The succession of crises which have plagued the increasingly executive EU for years, has led to a rising cacophony of voices calling for fundamental change to the integration project. Yet despite the seismic shock of the Brexit referendum and the electoral upsets by nativist parties across the continent, few of the plans for EU reform include concrete proposals to reduce the age-old democratic deficit. This book is concerned with the two-pronged question of how the relationship between citizens, the state and EU institutions has changed, and how direct democratic participation can be improved in a multi-layered Union. As such, this edited volume focuses not on populism per se, nor does it deeply engage with policy and output legitimacy. Rather, the research is concerned with process and polity. Building on the notion of increasing social, economic and political interdependence across borders, this volume asks how a sense of solidarity and European identity can be rescued from the bottom up by politically empowering citizens to ‘take back control’ of their EU.