Banishing dominance in Europe: The case for regional cosmopolitanism

Abstract

How is arbitrary rule – dominance – to be avoided when political differentiation is on the rise in the multilevel constellation that makes up the European Union? The EU is a power-wielding entity, that, due to its democratic deficits, is an instance of arbitrary rule, which differentiation only serves to exacerbate. This article discusses which political framework prevents dominance under conditions of asymmetric and complex interdependence, and economic integration in Europe. Under these conditions, the framework of international law is deficient, as the agreements with the associated non-members – the European Economic Area Agreement (EEA) and Switzerland – document. Here dominance appears to be self-incurred but nevertheless in breach with political freedom. Another is the framework suggested by Jürgen Habermas, of a pouvoir constituant mixte. Also, this framework raises the danger of arbitrary rule, as there is a risk that the autonomy of citizens would be pre-empted by the sovereignty of their states. The article holds the framework of a regional cosmopolitan federation – a rights-based polity with a distinct territorial reach – as more promising.

Justifying the Imperfect: Differentiated Integration and the Problem of the Second Best

“…In the latter case, we have to do with arbitrary rule or dominanc e, which designates forms of illegitimate rule, as well as of disenfranchisement, exclusion, and discrimination. The core of dominance is dependence on others’ unauthorized discretion (see Eriksen 2020; Pettit 2010).…”

Menu or Mandate? EU Governance and Party Politics in Poland

“…Accessed 24 March 2020.4 After the 2018 local election, the PO created the Civic Coalition (Koalicja Obywatelska, KO) by forming the parliamentary coalition with the Modern, the Polish Initiative, and the Greens. Nevertheless, the article uses the term "PO" as a general rule.5 The EU, as a cosmopolitan polity or power, has been studied byBeck and Grande (2007),Saurugger (2009) andEriksen (2019).…”