The European Union has often been critiqued in the past, as well as the present, for its apparent lack of democratic values. Now many find themselves questioning whether the critics were not right after all. Many different points have been raised in contemporary literature which reinforce this viewpoint, making further research in this field of study not only relevant, but necessary in our current crisis. I will review and analyse some of these accusations in this paper and attempt to disprove them if possible. Issues include the lack of a government and classical opposition, which leads to opposition of the entire system, the nationality problem, which can be found in almost every text about the European Union, as well as the powerful position of the Comission, the lack of power in the hands of the European Parliament and the favouritism of negative integration over positive integration. The main questions I will try to answer are: Is the EU a democratic institution? If so, what makes it democratic? If not, what does it lack and how can these issues be overcome?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Preface and Introduction
- What makes a Democracy democratic
- An impartial System?
- Imbalance
- Favouritism
- The Death of Opposition
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to determine whether the European Union can be considered a democratic institution, fitting into existing democratic categories or requiring a new classification. It will analyze the EU's democratic features and deficits, exploring potential solutions for any shortcomings. The analysis will draw comparisons with other democratic systems to provide a broader perspective.
- The definition and characteristics of democracy, specifically representative democracy.
- An evaluation of the European Union's democratic features and institutions.
- Identification of potential democratic deficits within the EU system.
- Analysis of criticisms regarding the EU's lack of democratic values.
- Exploration of potential solutions to address the identified democratic deficits.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Preface and Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by highlighting the post-World War II aspirations for a United States of Europe and contrasts them with the current state of the EU, marked by economic crisis and rising Euroscepticism. It introduces the paper's central question – whether the EU is a democratic institution – and outlines the key issues to be examined: the lack of a traditional government and opposition, the nationality problem, the Commission's power, the European Parliament's limited power, and the preference for negative over positive integration. The chapter emphasizes the relevance of this research in light of the ongoing European crisis and positions the paper's contribution to the existing literature.
What makes a Democracy democratic: This chapter explores the concept of representative democracy, distinguishing it from direct democracy and focusing its analysis on representative systems. It traces the origins of the term "democracy" from ancient Greek roots and briefly reviews the diversity of democratic systems while noting Lijphart's identification of 36 stable democracies in 1999. The chapter introduces different types of democratic systems, such as presidentialism and parliamentarism, providing a theoretical framework for the subsequent analysis of the EU's democratic structure. This foundational chapter establishes a basis for comparison when evaluating the EU's democratic credentials.
An impartial System?: This chapter delves into specific criticisms levied against the EU's democratic nature. It examines the perceived imbalances within the EU system, the accusations of favouritism, and the challenges related to the lack of a robust opposition leading to systemic opposition. Each sub-chapter (Imbalance, Favouritism, The Death of Opposition) likely provides detailed analysis and examples to support these criticisms. This is the core analytical section of the paper, examining the strengths and weaknesses of the EU's democratic claims based on tangible evidence and examples. Without revealing specific content from the sub-chapters, this chapter forms a critical examination of the EU's democratic legitimacy.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
European Union, democracy, democratic deficit, representative democracy, institutional design, national sovereignty, economic crisis, Euroscepticism, political opposition, European Parliament, European Commission, integration (positive and negative).
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Analysis of the European Union's Democratic Nature
What is the main topic of this document?
This document comprehensively analyzes whether the European Union (EU) can be considered a democratic institution. It examines the EU's democratic features and deficits, comparing it to established democratic systems and proposing potential solutions for identified shortcomings.
What are the key themes explored in the document?
The key themes include the definition and characteristics of democracy (especially representative democracy), an evaluation of the EU's democratic institutions and features, identification of potential democratic deficits, analysis of criticisms regarding the EU's democratic values, and exploration of potential solutions to address these deficits.
What aspects of the EU's democratic nature are examined?
The analysis covers several aspects: the lack of a traditional government and opposition, the nationality problem within the EU, the power dynamics of the European Commission, the limited power of the European Parliament, the preference for negative over positive integration, and the overall balance and impartiality of the EU system.
What types of democracies are discussed in the document?
The document discusses representative democracy, contrasting it with direct democracy. It also briefly reviews various democratic systems, such as presidentialism and parliamentarism, providing a framework for comparing them to the EU's structure.
What are some of the criticisms of the EU's democratic nature addressed in the document?
The document addresses criticisms concerning perceived imbalances within the EU system, accusations of favouritism towards certain member states or interests, and the challenges posed by the lack of a robust opposition, potentially leading to systemic opposition.
What is the purpose of the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide concise overviews of the content and arguments presented in each chapter of the document. They offer a quick way to grasp the main points of each section before reading the full text.
What is included in the "Objectives and Key Themes" section?
This section clearly states the document's aim – to determine if the EU is a democracy – and outlines the key themes explored, including the definition of democracy, an evaluation of the EU's democratic features, identification of its deficits, and a discussion of potential solutions.
What is the significance of the keywords provided?
The keywords ("European Union," "democracy," "democratic deficit," etc.) are essential terms used throughout the document and help readers quickly understand its core topics and facilitate searches and retrieval of relevant information.
How does the document contribute to existing literature?
The document contributes to the ongoing discussion surrounding the EU's democratic legitimacy, particularly in light of economic crises and rising Euroscepticism. It provides an in-depth analysis of the EU's democratic features and shortcomings, offering a fresh perspective on the existing literature.
Where can I find a complete table of contents?
The provided HTML includes a detailed table of contents outlining the structure of the document, including the preface, introduction, chapters on the nature of democracy, analysis of EU's democratic system, and a conclusion.
- Citation du texte
- Dominik Kirchdorfer (Auteur), 2012, Is the EU a democratic institution?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/214660
