Democracy in Europe : legitimising politics in a non-state polity

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Democracy in Europe : legitimising politics in a non-state polity

Heidrun Abromeit

Berghahn Books, 1998

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 170-176) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Since the beginning of the European Community students of international politics and of international, resp. Constitutional law, have been wondering what kind of animal it is, and will be, once integration has been completed. Whereas the EC Treaty of 1957 stressed the economic aspects and envisioned a steady and dynamic progress towards a Single Market, it was conspicuously silent about the political implications of integration and the new democratic order. What is needed, so the author argues in this powerful and original contribution to the debate on democratisation of the European Union, is a flexible system that supplements the European decision-making process with various direct democratic instruments such as the use of referenda. These would serve to increase the accountability of the politicians without demanding or requiring a definitive resolution of the exact constitutional status of the Union.

Table of Contents

Foreword List of Abbreviations Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Incompatibilities The Concept of 'Sovereignty' Federalism Democracy Conclusion Chapter 3. Inadequate Solutions The Recent Reform Debate Parliamentarisation Multi-Cameralism Federalism Conclusion Chapter 4. In Search of an Adequate Model: Theoretical Considerations Contract Theory Fiscal Federalism Concepts of Group Representation Network Analysis and Game Theory New Normative Democratic Theory Conclusion Chapter 5. A Proposal for the Democratisation of the EU The Practical Task A System of Veto Rights Regional Subunits: the Assignment of Powers Sectoral Subunits: How to Distinguish Them Procedures Some Illustrations A Summary of the Proposal Chapter 6. Major Objections Democratic Ambivalence (or: How Democratic is Democracy?) Democracy vs. Efficiency Biases and Asymmetries The acquis communautaire Chapter 7. Models and Realities Bibliography Index

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