Ruud Koopmans and
Jessica Erbe
Towards a European public sphere?
Abstract
In this
paper we address the alleged communication or public sphere
deficit of the EU. We develop a systematic approach to the
Europeanization of public spheres, which distinguishes three forms
of Europeanized political communication: supranational, vertical
and horizontal. We propose that the spatial reach and boundaries
of public communication can be determined by investigating
communicative flows and assessing the relative density of public
communication within and between different geopolitical spaces. We
apply this model to data on political claim making in seven issue
fields in German print media in the year 2000. We find that the
degree and forms of Europeanization of political communication
vary considerably among policy fields. These differences are
strongly linked to the extent and type (supranational or
intergovernmental) of competencies of the EU in these fields.
Contrary to the hypothesis of a public sphere deficit, the German
mass media seem to quite accurately reflect the Europeanization of
policy making, at least in those policy fields where a clear-cut
transfer of competencies to the supranational EU level has taken
place.
Élise Féron
Anti-globalization movements and the European agenda
Abstract
This
article examines the relationship between the Europeanization
process and the anti-globalization agenda in Europe. Relying on
the results of fieldwork research conducted since 2001 on the
anti-globalization demonstrations surrounding the European summits,
it argues that these transnational protest movements are of a dual
and, in part, contradictory nature. On the one hand, they have an
agenda-setting character, contributing to the formation of
European public opinion. On the other hand, their influence in
terms of agenda setting of European policy is constrained by their
discourse style which bypasses or circumvents official discourse
about European integration.
Sandrine Rui
Transport policy and public involvement
Abstract
This paper
examines the possibility of establishing a public space of
deliberation concerning transport policy. It deals with the
question of whether it is possible to envisage instances of
concertation that deflect conflict. Based mostly on French
experience with public inquiries on transport infrastructure, it
discusses the relevance and applicability of the sociology of
collective action, as well as theories of deliberative democracy.
The paper's main argument is that concertation does not occur in a
vacuum but is instead structured by power relations. It is,
therefore, first and foremost an opportunity to express
dissatisfaction and frustration. At the same time, public debate
represents--perhaps for the same reason--an opportunity to
criticize forms of social domination. It thus may give rise to
citizen mobilization rather than help contain it, as is often
naively expected by its promoters within the public policy
administration. Conflict is thus always the actual subject of
public debate.
K.G. Hammarlund
Regional reform and citizen participation in Sweden
Abstract
Seven years
ago the Swedish government launched a Regional Reform Programme
with the aim of establishing a new intermediate level of
governance alongside the national level and that of the local
municipality. The conditions for achieving constructive
institutionalization differ considerably in Skåne and Västra Götaland,
the two regions participating in the pilot programme. However, the
level of citizen participation (i.e. voter turnout in regional
elections) in the two regions does not differ--in both regions,
citizens have demonstrated tremendous indifference towards the new
fora. One reason for this could be that the reform has to a very
large degree been built on traditional political structures, which
in turn have suffered a loss of credibility in the past decades.
There might, however, also be reason to question the often
presupposed link between a region's degree of socio-cultural
consolidation and its acceptance as a vital and meaningful
political entity.
Giusto Barisi
Democratisation et maîtrise des mutations
socio-economiques
Abstract
Notre thèse
est que nous ne pouvons pas sortir de la crise de la démocratie
et des systèmes de gouvernance en Europe si nous ne maîtrisons
pas les mutations profondes qui traversent la société européenne.
L'une des principales caractéristiques du processus de
mondialisation néolibérale est d'avoir transféré des pouvoirs
de régulation stratégique des institutions publiques et des représentants
des populations aux acteurs économiques les plus puissants. Des
crises de régulation et des dysfonctionnements structurels sont
provoqués par le fait que, en l'absence de contre-pouvoirs
efficaces, les oligarchies économiques deviennent, dans les faits,
les régulateurs de processus dont ils sont les acteurs. Dans ce
contexte, les institutions européennes sont les plus pénalisées
parce que la Communauté européenne a été conçue pour
intervenir dans le domaine économique et non pas dans le domaine
politique ou social. Ce déséquilibre affecte les possibilités
de gouvernance des sociétés européennes étant donné que, au
niveau des Etats, les applications du principe de subsidiarité
sont très inefficaces. Cependant, dans le cadre de la préservation
des valeurs européennes, les crises profondes comme celle que
l'on observe aujourd'hui imposent des choix stratégiques et
constituent donc des opportunités pour des changements
d'envergure.
