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The Democratic Deficit in the European Union

Author

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  • Christophe Crombez

    (University of Leuven, Belgium, and Stanford University, USA crombez@stanford.edu)

Abstract

This paper studies the democratic deficit in the European Union (EU). It examines what constitutes a democratic deficit, analyzes whether there is one in the EU, and offers suggestions for a solution. I focus on the output of the legislative process and study whether policies deviate from those emerging in other political systems. In particular, I present a formal model of policy-making in a bicameral system, apply it to the EU, and compare the EU with the United States. I conclude that the institutional setup of the EU does not lead to policies that are fundamentally undemocratic, and that the composition of its institutions is not inherently less democratic than that of the US political institutions. I also find, however, that a democratic deficit may exist owing to a lack of transparency and an excess of delegation in the legislative process.

Suggested Citation

  • Christophe Crombez, 2003. "The Democratic Deficit in the European Union," European Union Politics, , vol. 4(1), pages 101-120, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:4:y:2003:i:1:p:101-120
    DOI: 10.1177/1465116503004001583
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christophe Crombez & Bernard Steunenberg & Richard Corbett, 2000. "Understanding the EU Legislative Process," European Union Politics, , vol. 1(3), pages 363-381, October.
    2. Crombez, Christophe, 1996. "Legislative Procedures in the European Community," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(2), pages 199-228, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Magnette, Paul & Papadopoulos, Yannis, 2008. "On the politicization of the European consociation: A middle way between Hix and Bartolini," European Governance Papers (EUROGOV) 1, CONNEX and EUROGOV networks.
    2. Martin Kuta & Jan Němec, 2015. "The Character of Membership as a Determinant of Different Performance? An Exploratory Analysis of European Affairs Committees of the Czech Parliament [Charakter členství jako determinant odlišného ," Současná Evropa, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2015(1), pages 67-84.
    3. Pieter Bouwen, 2003. "The Democratic Legitimacy of Business Interest Representation in the European Union: Normative Implications of the Logic of Access," Discussion Paper Series of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods 2003_8, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods.
    4. Emmanuel Sigalas, 2009. "Does ERASMUS Student Mobility promote a EuropeanIdentity?," The Constitutionalism Web-Papers p0036, University of Hamburg, Faculty for Economics and Social Sciences, Department of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science.

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