Democratic Participation and Civil Society in the European Union (Europe in Change) - Hardcover

Friedrich, Dawid

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0719083540 ISBN 13: 9780719083549

Publisher: Manchester University Press, 2011

Synopsis

Can the participation of civil society organisations democratise policy making in the European Union? This book challenges the widespread optimism about civil society participation in European governance and offers a nuanced and realistic evaluation of its democratic potential. Friedrich argues that the participation of these groups is only of democratic value if participatory patterns are democratised through appropriate institutional means.

This book systematically brings together insights from normative democratic theory with an empirical evaluation of concrete policy-processes. It demonstrates that the participation of civil society organisation cannot be conceived as a panacea for the European Union’s democratic deficit, because the participatory pattern of EU policy-making violates the key democratic value of political equality.

This book will be of interest to all of those concerned about the future of European democracy, those studying and teaching European politics, the European Union, international relations and democratic theory.

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About this title

About the Author

Dawid Friedrich is Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg

From the Back Cover

Can the participation of civil society organisations democratise policy making in the European Union? This book challenges the widespread optimism about civil society participation in European governance and offers a nuanced and realistic evaluation of its democratic potential. Friedrich argues that the participation of these groups is only of democratic value if participatory patterns are democratised through appropriate institutional means.

This book systematically brings together insights from normative democratic theory with an empirical evaluation of concrete policy-processes. It demonstrates that the participation of civil society organisation cannot be conceived as a panacea for the European Union's democratic deficit, because the participatory pattern of EU policy-making violates the key democratic value of political equality.

This book will be of interest to all of those concerned about the future of European democracy, those studying and teaching European politics, the European Union, international relations and democratic theory.

Edition details

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0719083540
• ISBN 13: 9780719083549
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256