Can Justice Dethrone Democracy in the European Union? A Reply to Jürgen Neyer

Abstract

Jürgen Neyer has recently proposed replacing the European Union's 'democracy discourse' with a 'justice discourse'. This article challenges his arguments. It points out the difficulties associated with Neyer's assertion that EU democracy is not theoretically possible. It then goes on to argue against his proposition that it would be unfair to judge the EU against democracy criteria. Finally it questions Neyer's assumption that EU policy contains an incontestable justice, arguing that democracy remains essential as the means by which a political community differentiates between justice and injustice.

Who's Afraid of Justice? A Rejoinder to Danny Nicol

“…Danny Nicol (2012) argues in this journal that my effort to devise a realistic normative conception of the European Union is unconvincing because it commits four main errors: it uncritically identifies the EU's aims and policies with justice; it fails to apply a principled approach for assessing democracy in the EU; it inappropriately separates justice from democracy; and it uses a methodology that is highly affirmative. In this article, I will respond to these objections.…”