Abstract
This article examines the extent to which the European Union can be considered to suffer from a crisis of legitimacy, a common refrain in recent years. It argues that critics inappropriately compare the EU with the standard democratic governance arrangements of a Member State, when the EU is a sui generis entity; a peculiar mix of supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. Nonetheless, the article assesses the EU against the criteria for a democratic legitimacy and finds that there are no obvious fundamental failings. That said, the EU is not perfect, and the article argues that it must address its communication deficit and begin a sustained period of real dialogue on its future direction and end point, territorially and constitutionally.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnull A (2002) Introduction: the European Union’s accountability and legitimacy deficit. In: Arnull A, Wincott D (eds) Accountability and legitimacy in the European Union. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 1–10
Beetham D (1991) The legitimation of power. Macmillan, Basingstoke
Bellamy R, Castiglione D (2000) The uses of democracy: reflections on the European democratic deficit. In: Oddvar Eriksen E, Erik Fossum J (eds) Democracy in the European Union—integration through deliberation? Routledge, London, pp 65–84
Bogdanor V (2007) Legitimacy, accountability and democracy in the European Union. Federal Trust for Education and Research, London
Bovens M (2007) New forms of accountability and EU-governance. Comp Eur Polit 5(1):104–120
Callanan M (2007) The Irish contribution to ‘treaty making’. In: Callanan M (ed) Foundations of an ever closer union. IPA, Dublin, pp 215–251
Castle S (2004) MEPs to approve Barroso’s Commission. Independent, 18 November
de Búrca G (2004) The drafting of a constitution for the European Union: Europe’s Madisonian moment or a moment of madness? Wash Lee Leg Rev 61(2):555–586
Dobson L, Weale A (2003) Governance and legitimacy. In: Bomberg E, Stubb A (eds) The European Union: how does it work? Oxford University Press, Oxford
Dyrberg P (2002) Accountability and legitimacy: what is the contribution of transparency? In: Arnull A, Wincott D (eds) Accountability and legitimacy in the European Union. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 81–96
EC (European Commission) (2006) Eurobarometer 66—public opinion in the European Union. December
EC (European Commission) (2007) Eurobarometer 68—public opinion in the European Union. December
EC (European Commission) (2008a) Eurobarometer 69—public opinion in the European Union. June
EC (European Commission) (2008b) Eurobarometer 70—public opinion in the European Union. December
Featherstone K (1994) Jean Monnet and the ‘democratic deficit’ in the European Union. J Common Mark Stud 32(2):149–170
Follesdal A, Hix S (2006) Why there is a democratic deficit in the EU: a response to Majone and Moravcsik. J Common Mark Stud 44(3):533–562
Gurr TR (1971) Why men rebel. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Majone G (1998) Europe’s ‘democratic deficit’: the question of standards. Eur Law Rev 4(1):5–28
Malone M, Mulreany M (2002) Citizenship, national identity and the democratic legitimacy of the European Union. Administration 50(1):41–65
Meyer C (1999) Political legitimacy and the invisibility of politics: exploring the European Union’s communication deficit. J Common Mark Stud 37(4):617–639
Millward Brown IMS (2008) Post Lisbon Treaty referendum—research findings. Department of Foreign Affairs, Dublin
Moravcsik A (2002) In defence of the ‘democratic deficit’: reassessing legitimacy in the European Union. J Common Mark Stud 40(4):603–624
Moravcsik A (2008) The myth of Europe’s ‘democratic deficit’. Interecon J Eur Public Policy (November–December): 331–340
Newman M (2006) After the ‘permissive consensus’: still searching for democracy. In: Richardson J (ed) European Union—power and policy making, 3rd edn. Routledge, New York, pp 377–409
Nugent N (2003) The government and politics of the European Union, 5th edn. Palgrave MacMillan, New York
Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Ireland’s Future in the European Union (2008) Ireland’s future in the European Union: challenges, issues and options. Houses of the Oireachtas, Dublin
Pollack M (2003) The engines of European integration. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Puntscher Riekmann S (2007) In search of lost norms: is accountability the solution to the legitimacy problems of the European Union? Comp Eur Polit 5(1):121–137
Schlesinger P, Kevin D (2000) Can the European Union become a sphere of publics? In: Oddvar Eriksen E, Erik Fossum J (eds) Democracy in the European Union—integration through deliberation?. Routledge, London, pp 206–229
Sharpf F (1999) Governing in Europe: effective and democratic? Oxford University Press, Oxford
Wincott D (2002) National states, European Union and changing dynamics in the quest for legitimacy. In: Arnull A, Wincott D (eds) Accountability and legitimacy in the European Union. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 379–398
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Ward, T. The European Union: a crisis of legitimacy?. European View 9, 115–127 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-010-0124-4
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-010-0124-4