Political representation and democracy in the European Union

2015 ◽  
pp. 467-492
Author(s):  
Sandra Kröger
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
The European Union

6. Electoral Systems and Direct Democracy

2021 ◽  
pp. 89-111
Author(s):  
Catherine E. De Vries ◽  
Sara B. Hobolt ◽  
Sven-Oliver Proksch ◽  
Jonathan B. Slapin
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Party System ◽  
Electoral Systems ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Party Systems ◽  
The European Union ◽  
View Point ◽  
Institutional Differences ◽  
Over Time

This chapter starts off with an overview of the institutions that decide how citizens cast ballots, firstly, in elections, and secondly, directly for policy. The former is related to electoral systems and the latter to direct democracy. The chapter considers the implications of these institutions for party systems and political representation from the view point of the principal–agent framework. There is a large variety of electoral systems used in Europe. Most elections are held using the system of proportional representation. However, there are important institutional differences that need to be remembered. The chapter then goes on to examine the effects of electoral systems on the party system. This is carried out with electoral change over time in mind. Finally, the chapter turns to direct democracy and analyses the use of referendums, specifically with regard to the question of the European Union (EU).

scholarly journals SUPRA-REGIONALISM IN THE CONTEXT OF MULTI-LEVEL POLITICS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-516
Author(s):  
M.V. Isobchuk
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Political Action ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Regional Identity ◽  
Modern World ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Political Movement ◽  
Academic Field ◽  
Administrative Unit

Regionalism’s studies in the context of current political events remain relevant for the academic field. However, most of these studies are focused on regionalism, concentrated within one territorial-administrative unit. At the same time, in the European space there is a phenomenon, when regionalism is dispersed over the territory of several regions. Examples of such a world are Transylvania, Silesia, the Basque Country, etc. However, today in political science there is no theoretical framework for such cases. This article offers a conceptualization of this phenomenon, which is proposed to be called supra-regionalism and a typology of supra-regionalisms in the modern world is proposed. Supra-regionalism is a political movement that has a territorial base in several administrative-territorial units, and converts aspects of regional identity (ethnic, economic, political, etc.) into political action, the goal of which is to achieve/preserve the special status of the regions it represents. In the course of the study, a number of criteria were proposed to assess the effectiveness of supra-regionalism. These include its entire integrity - that is, the uniformity of electoral support within the region, as well as the presence of mechanisms for interregional integration and representation of the supra-region. These parameters were developed based on the concept of multilevel control. Among these parameters: political representation of supra-regionalism, constitutional foundations of identity, non-electoral representation, special meetings, representation in Brussels, cross-border regions, participation in European projects. Based on a low-casus comparison of seven European supra-regionalisms, conclusions are drawn regarding the consistency of supra-regionalism in Europe at the moment. First of all, it should be noted that the main (and almost the only) mechanism for the integration of supra-regionalism is party organizations. In general, supra-regionalisms use other opportunities, including the opportunities provided by the European Union for joint representation and implementation of policy in the interests of the supra-region. Moreover, there is a tendency towards a more effective disappearance of supra-regionalisms in the European Union.

scholarly journals Egalitatea de gen. Politici publice sau un câmp de luptă discursiv și politico-religios?

Transilvania ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 18-33
Author(s):  
Oana Băluță
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Gender Ideology ◽  
Institutional Changes ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Acquis Communautaire

Romania’s pre- and post-accession to the European Union revealed that gender equality had been considered a marginal domain of interest, with mandatory legislative and institutional changes that had to be put into practice given the acquis communautaire. The financial and economic crisis was an important setback, it deterred Romania from a progressive democratic road, and opened avenues for democratic backsliding. Important challenges were brought by the financial and economic crisis and later on by conservative political and civil society’s forces mobilizing against gender equality. During the last couple of years, we have also witnessed an intensification of mobilization against gender equality called anti-gender campaigns. The article is both descriptive and reflexive and analyzes the configuration of the anti-gender campaigns in Romania, identifies the themes that mobilized discourses and activities combating the so called `gender ideology` and identifies the main actors supporting these campaigns. The article highlights that the opposition against gender equality is not restricted to discourse or civic mobilization but has already entered the field of political representation.

scholarly journals On the Way to an Anthroparchic Community of Law. The European Union as the Subject of Global Law

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Radosław Kołatek
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
International Law ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Legal Order ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
International Organization ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Intergovernmental Organization ◽  
Law Making ◽  
The Eu

According to I. Pernice, the European Union has to be distinguished from an international organization for four reasons at least.First, there is no international organization where citizens have their own political representation and participate in the decision-making process. Second, direct legal action against individuals by directly applicable legislation does not happen. Third, the question of protection of fundamental rights against such ‘international’ power is not an issue. Last but not least, ‘no international organization provides for legal remedies of individuals against measures of that organization since there is no action having direct effect to the individual’. Therefore the author believes that the EU is an organization of citizens albeit having an appearance of an organization between states.Nevertheless one needs to remember that the European Union was founded as an intergovernmental organization by the European states on the principles of international law. That is why it has to be treated as a legal entity comprising the category of international organizations.Inasmuch as the role of individuals in the EU law-making process has been strengthened, their position was rather poor at the beginning of the European integration process. A direct right for individuals to submit a proposal for a legal act to the Commission is a great novelty not seen until now. Strengthening methods of democratic law-making by involving the European Parliament as well as national assemblies in the ordinary legislative procedure is again a fresh start. It is much the same with the system of judicial remedies differentiating the EU legal order from the horizontality of classical public international law.International law as a source of legitimacy for the European Union has always been and is still valid. Nonetheless the history of EU integration demonstrates the continuous evolution of that legal system. Therefore it is increasingly more difficult for lawyers to describe precisely what type of international organization and juridical entity this phenomenon is. It is all the more intricate while seeking a definition in the world of classical international law.An unravelling comes with Rafael Domingo’s theory as the European Union fulfils Domingo’s conditions to become an anthroparchic community of law. It happens through its legal order and participation of non-state actors in the law-making process. In such a case one can believe this juridical entity is also a subject in global law.European integration in the perspective of international law has been being widely analysed so one can easily find some critical papers in this field. This subject has also been examined by political scientists. ‘A sui generis political entity’ as a term defining the European Union is well established in the theory of international relations. Les hommes politiques go even further in their descriptions naming the European Union an unidentified political object (UPO) or the first non-imperial empire. Regrettably these terms cause more confusion than explanation.Despite the fact how descriptions assigned to the European Union are creative and diverse, agreement on what is the actual shape that the EU is taking is by no means easy. The size and functioning of the EU has been shaped and reshaped over the course of history. However the goal of an emerging ‘ever closer union’ is still in search of the paths of real and not ideal accomplishment. In fact, most institutional innovations bear some relation to past experience and borrow from it.

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