Democratic Dilemmas of Multilevel Governance: Legitimacy, Representation and Accountability in the European Union

The 'democratic deficit' of the European Union is a much-discussed concern of politicians and commentators. This insightful collection argues that this is in part a result of the multilevel nature of EU governance. Popular loyalties become divided between levels of government, lines of accountability become ambiguous and supranational institutions seem distant from citizens. These challenges are part of broader globalizing processes that have destabilized the traditional notion of the nation state and replaced it with multilevel forms of governance across the globe.

Focusing on the EU, this volume examines the problems multilevel governance causes for democratic legitimacy by placing it in a comparative and theoretical context, and explores how challenges faced by the EU compare with those faced by traditional federal systems. Drawing on theoretical perspectives and empirical research, this book evaluates the various explanations for the problems facing democracy within the EU and shows how legitimacy and accountability can be improved.