The Economist: In search of the missing European demos

 



A European demos, or common political culture. 

For centuries in Germany and beyond, civic life has been the stuff of municipalities, provinces or nation-states. 

Yet in Europe power is increasingly wielded by eu institutions in Brussels. 

Whether this centralising arrangement can be anything more than a souped-up intergovernmental body, a sort of regional un on steroids, depends in part on whether citizens of countries across the eu viscerally feel they belong to the same polity. 

From such a unified demos might emerge a unified European democracy.

The demos, if it exists, should be most visible in the run-up to the bloc’s elections 

Instead it is notably absent.

European elections have far lower turnouts than national ones. The balloting takes place simultaneously across the bloc, but it is best thought of as 27 concurrent national affairs. 

French voters will want to serve Mr Macron some humble pie, Polish ones will give their newish government a first report card, and so on. 

If eu policies are discussed, it will be almost incidental.

The Economist 2 May 2024

https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/05/02/europeans-lack-visceral-attachment-to-the-eu-does-it-matter


Tove Lifvendahl om Partiledardebatten

Det hade också, med en månad kvar till Europaparlamentsvalet, varit mycket värdefullt att veta hur de olika partiledarna ser på prioriteringar och vägval i EU-samarbetet. Kan man tycka.

https://englundmacro.blogspot.com/2024/05/tove-lifvendahl-om-partiledardebatten.html




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