Democracy in Europe
Subtitle: legitimising politics in a non-state polity
By: Heidrun Abromeit.
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Published: 1998
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 182
Subjects: Democracy -- European Union countries.; Political participation -- European Union countries.; Legitimacy of governments -- European Union countries.; Referendum -- European Union countries.
Description: The EC Treaty of 1957, which stressed the economic aspects of the Union and envisioned a steady and dynamic progress towards a single market, focused solely on economic integration, and was conspicuously silent about the political implications of integration and a new democratic order. This has left political analysts to deal with the inadequacies of current democratic theory and the problems of modern 'governance' beyond the state.

Democracy in Europe makes a powerful and original contribution to this debate. It suggests a flexible system that supplements the European decision-making process with various direct democratic instruments that would serve to increase the accountability of politicians without demanding or requiring definitive resolutions of the constitutional status of the Union.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 170-176) and index.