Interdisciplinary Views on Political Representation in the EU

“Not all observers would share the view that the current European crisis is as much a crisis of politics as economics.  Yet it is fair to assume that the EU is currently undergoing a severe political crisis. This crisis relates as much to the democratic legitimacy of its institutions as it does to their broader social legitimacy and that of the European project as such” (Kröger, 2012).

This working paper edited by Dr. Sarah Kröger (Marie Curie Fellow, Exeter) takes an interdisciplinary view on the current European crisis and what it means for the EU’s legitimacy.  Has the “democratic deficit” increased as a result of the crisis, is it an overstatement, does it exist?  If yes, how to deal with it? More than thirty academics, researchers and policymakers across Europe provide their opinion on the subject over a straightforward set of Q&A.  Different disciplinary, methodological but also political views provide an in depth perspective on the question of the European crisis and the democratic deficit.

This paper documents the responses by 38 academics and experts from different disciplines on four key questions: the definition of democratic representation, its main challenges in the EU, political responses to it, and future research agendas.

Editor: Dr Sandra Kröger (University of Exeter)