Brexit and the Democratic Deficit

James Richard Buller

Brexit and the Democratic Deficit

Politics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

This paper critically assesses the claim that the European Union (EU) has undermined parliamentary democracy in Britain. It asserts that the system of multi-level governance at the EU level has weakened Westminster’s scrutiny and educative functions, but finds that this development was unavoidable. It argues that David Cameron’s recent proposals to strengthen the role of national parliaments in the EU legislative process are unlikely to rectify this state of affairs. Nor can this democratic deficit be satisfactorily addressed by uploading the model of representative democracy to Brussels. Instead, the paper calls for a rethink concerning what legitimacy might mean in the context of Britain’s relations with an organization characterized by supranational governance. It concludes by suggesting that Fritz Scharpf’s distinction between ‘input’ and ‘output’ legitimacy (and his focus on the latter) might be a more fruitful way forward.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Europe and the People:
Subtitle of host publication	Examining the EU's Democratic Deficit and Ways to Strengthen It
Publisher	Foreign Policy Centre
Publication status	Published - 2016

Access to Document

http://fpc.org.uk/publications/eudemocratic

Cite this

@inbook{6f99d987b7f741cf8478042888ad9f97,

title = "Brexit and the Democratic Deficit",

abstract = "This paper critically assesses the claim that the European Union (EU) has undermined parliamentary democracy in Britain. It asserts that the system of multi-level governance at the EU level has weakened Westminster{\textquoteright}s scrutiny and educative functions, but finds that this development was unavoidable. It argues that David Cameron{\textquoteright}s recent proposals to strengthen the role of national parliaments in the EU legislative process are unlikely to rectify this state of affairs. Nor can this democratic deficit be satisfactorily addressed by uploading the model of representative democracy to Brussels. Instead, the paper calls for a rethink concerning what legitimacy might mean in the context of Britain{\textquoteright}s relations with an organization characterized by supranational governance. It concludes by suggesting that Fritz Scharpf{\textquoteright}s distinction between {\textquoteleft}input{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}output{\textquoteright} legitimacy (and his focus on the latter) might be a more fruitful way forward. ",

author = "Buller, {James Richard}",

year = "2016",

language = "English",

booktitle = "Europe and the People:",

publisher = "Foreign Policy Centre",

}

TY - CHAP

T1 - Brexit and the Democratic Deficit

AU - Buller, James Richard

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - This paper critically assesses the claim that the European Union (EU) has undermined parliamentary democracy in Britain. It asserts that the system of multi-level governance at the EU level has weakened Westminster’s scrutiny and educative functions, but finds that this development was unavoidable. It argues that David Cameron’s recent proposals to strengthen the role of national parliaments in the EU legislative process are unlikely to rectify this state of affairs. Nor can this democratic deficit be satisfactorily addressed by uploading the model of representative democracy to Brussels. Instead, the paper calls for a rethink concerning what legitimacy might mean in the context of Britain’s relations with an organization characterized by supranational governance. It concludes by suggesting that Fritz Scharpf’s distinction between ‘input’ and ‘output’ legitimacy (and his focus on the latter) might be a more fruitful way forward.

AB - This paper critically assesses the claim that the European Union (EU) has undermined parliamentary democracy in Britain. It asserts that the system of multi-level governance at the EU level has weakened Westminster’s scrutiny and educative functions, but finds that this development was unavoidable. It argues that David Cameron’s recent proposals to strengthen the role of national parliaments in the EU legislative process are unlikely to rectify this state of affairs. Nor can this democratic deficit be satisfactorily addressed by uploading the model of representative democracy to Brussels. Instead, the paper calls for a rethink concerning what legitimacy might mean in the context of Britain’s relations with an organization characterized by supranational governance. It concludes by suggesting that Fritz Scharpf’s distinction between ‘input’ and ‘output’ legitimacy (and his focus on the latter) might be a more fruitful way forward.

M3 - Chapter

BT - Europe and the People:

PB - Foreign Policy Centre

ER -