The Unfinished Democratization of Europe

Abstract

There is a tension between democracy, which is limited to the nation-state, and human rights, which are universal and point to the ideal republic. The Charter of Fundamental Human Rights of the European Union is an important step in the process of institutionalising a framework of a cosmopolitan order where violations of human rights can be persecuted as criminal offences according to legal procedures. The principle of popular sovereignty is on its way to be transformed into a law for the citizens of the world. But as the process of Europeansation is tainted with juridification and executive dominance the EU is in need of democratization. The citizens have obtained rights but they have not been able to give these rights to themselves. The protracted Constitutionmaking process of the EU testifies to a promising yet unaccomplished mission of democratization.

Introduction: the differentiated politicisation of European governance

“…By contrast, those asserting that the EU is a polity in the making tend to argue that standards of democratic legitimacy should apply, and identify a democratic deficit (Eriksen 2009;Kohler-Koch and Rittberger 2007;Lord 1998;Risse 2010). Habermasians and competitive elitists share an understanding of politicisation as beneficial to EU democracy, albeit for different reasons.…”

Cynical or Deliberative? An Analysis of the European Commission’s Public Communication on Its Use of Expertise in Policy-Making

“…Our study also adds to existing scholarship on deliberation in EU policy and decision-making (Eriksen, 2009(Eriksen, , 2014Eriksen & Fossum, 2012;Joerges, 2001;Sjursen, 2011;Stie, 2013).…”

“…However, deliberative theorists typically expect that deliberation takes place: "Rational choice" and "strategic calculations of mutual advantage" are central to political processes and discussion, but "reason-giving" is a primary coordinating mechanism (Eriksen, 2014, pp. 14, 26; see also Eriksen, 2009). …”

The European Citizens’ Initiative: Transnational Democracy in the EU at last?

“…Erik Oddvar Eriksen and John Erik Fossum have described Moravcsik's take on EU democracy as "delegated democracy": in its democratic legitimacy, European integration depends on democratic processes and procedures that are institutionalized at the domestic level, making further democratization at the supranational level unnecessary (Eriksen & Fossum 2007; cf. Eriksen & Fossum 2004;Eriksen 2009). For scholars in the postnational tradition, however, this is a highly incomplete image of European integration, as the process has proceeded far beyond the form of intergovernmentalism that Moravcsik describes (Eriksen & Fossum 2007;Eriksen 2009).…”

“…Eriksen & Fossum 2004;Eriksen 2009). For scholars in the postnational tradition, however, this is a highly incomplete image of European integration, as the process has proceeded far beyond the form of intergovernmentalism that Moravcsik describes (Eriksen & Fossum 2007;Eriksen 2009). …”