The main purpose of this paper is to look at the democratic deficit from different perspectives and find out if the last treaty of the EU, the Lisbon Treaty, could bring the EU and its institutions closer towards democracy and eliminate or at least reduce the democratic deficit. In order to do so, first an attempt is made to define democratic deficit going to its roots and first implementation relating to the EU.
Second, different debates and opinions about the democratic deficit, its existence or absence will be presented in the second chapter of this seminar paper. Opinions of the most prominent scholars in this field such as Moravcsik, Majone and Hix, whose contribution to democratic discussions was enormous in the last decade will be thoroughly analyzed. The part involving opinions of Moravcsik and Majone of this chapter is the longest one based on an assumption that in our everyday life we often hear arguments in support of the existence of democratic deficit. It was important to show another perspective on this issue as not enough attention is drawn to assess democratic deficit from the point of its non-existence. Further opinions of scholars who agree with existence of democratic problems will be presented, whereas there will be many wanted correlations with Moravcsik and Majone to give a complete overview over the issue.
After defining and presenting different perspectives on democracy and democratic deficit I will continue talking about contributions made by the Lisbon Treaty to democracy as well as main reforms and opportunities for further development of the EU.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Democratic deficit and the two sides of a democratic coin
- Defining “democratic deficit”
- 'Democratic deficit' is a myth
- Moravcsik
- Majone
- Existence of the democratic deficit and main problem areas
- On the way to democracy: impacts of Lisbon Treaty
- Conclusion
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This seminar paper examines the concept of democratic deficit within the European Union, specifically focusing on the impact of the Lisbon Treaty. It aims to analyze different perspectives on democratic deficit, determine whether the Lisbon Treaty has brought the EU closer to democracy, and assess the extent to which EU institutions suffer from democratic deficit.
- Defining and exploring the concept of democratic deficit in the EU.
- Analyzing contrasting perspectives on the existence and nature of democratic deficit.
- Evaluating the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the EU's democratic structures.
- Identifying key problem areas within the EU's democratic process.
- Exploring the challenges of balancing national sovereignty with EU integration.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction lays out the core argument of the paper, highlighting the ongoing debate around democratic deficit in the EU and its implications for the Union's legitimacy. The paper emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of democratic deficit, acknowledging its complex nature and the diverse perspectives surrounding it.
Chapter 2 delves into the concept of democratic deficit, exploring its definition, its historical roots, and the diverse opinions surrounding its existence. This chapter analyzes the perspectives of prominent scholars like Moravcsik and Majone, showcasing the debate between those who view democratic deficit as a serious issue and those who consider it a myth.
Chapter 3 focuses on the Lisbon Treaty, examining its potential to address the issues related to democratic deficit. It explores the treaty's specific reforms, its impact on EU institutions, and its implications for the democratic future of the EU.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key concepts and terms explored within this seminar paper include democratic deficit, European Union, Lisbon Treaty, legitimacy, EU institutions, national sovereignty, democratic reform, Euroscepticism, transnational democracy, and the role of the European Parliament.
- Quote paper
- Sabina Agarunova (Author), 2014, Could the Lisbon Treaty bring the EU and its institutions closer towards democracy and reduce the democratic deficit?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/317763
