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To Democratize or to Protect? How the Response to Anti‐System Parties Reshapes the EU's Transnational Party System

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  • Ludvig Norman

Abstract

This article studies how efforts to democratize the European Union's (EU) decision‐making procedures are reshaped by the growing influence of anti‐system parties in Europe. This new political landscape exacerbates a fundamental democratic dilemma for the EU: to either open up, and further democratize its institutions or to work to protect those institutions from the influence of anti‐systemic actors. The article analyses how political elites engage with this dilemma by studying a process unfolding from 2010 to 2019 through which reforms to the EU's transnational party system were introduced. Building on extensive interview and debate data the analysis demonstrates that, while a democratizing logic informed early stages of the process, a protective logic gradually became dominant. The article goes on to discuss the possible implications of this shift for the continued democratization of the EU and identifies this dimension in EU politics as a pertinent field for further study.

Suggested Citation

  • Ludvig Norman, 2021. "To Democratize or to Protect? How the Response to Anti‐System Parties Reshapes the EU's Transnational Party System," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(3), pages 721-737, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jcmkts:v:59:y:2021:i:3:p:721-737
    DOI: 10.1111/jcms.13128
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abou-Chadi, Tarik & Krause, Werner, 2020. "The Causal Effect of Radical Right Success on Mainstream Parties’ Policy Positions: A Regression Discontinuity Approach," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 50(3), pages 829-847, July.
    2. Simon Hix & Amie Kreppel & Abdul Noury, 2003. "The Party System in the European Parliament: Collusive or Competitive?," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(2), pages 309-331, April.
    3. Peter Oliver & Justine Stefanelli, 2016. "Strengthening the Rule of Law in the EU: The Council's Inaction," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(5), pages 1075-1084, September.
    4. Peter John Oliver & Justine Stefanelli, 2016. "Strengthening the Rule of Law in the EU: The Council's Inaction," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/236622, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Abou-Chadi, Tarik & Krause, Werner, 2020. "The Causal Effect of Radical Right Success on Mainstream Parties’ Policy Positions: A Regression Discontinuity Approach," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 50(3), pages 829-847.
    6. Amichai Magen, 2016. "Cracks in the Foundations: Understanding the Great Rule of Law Debate in the EU," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(5), pages 1050-1061, September.
    7. March, James G. & Olsen, Johan P., 1998. "The Institutional Dynamics of International Political Orders," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(4), pages 943-969, October.
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    1. Ludvig Norman & Wouter Wolfs, 2022. "Is the Governance of Europe's Transnational Party System Contributing to EU Democracy?," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(2), pages 463-479, March.

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