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"Preface" [2004] ELECD 22; in Christiansen, Thomas; Piattoni, Simona (eds), "Informal Governance in the European Union" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2004)

Book Title: Informal Governance in the European Union

Editor(s): Christiansen, Thomas; Piattoni, Simona

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781843763512

Section Title: Preface

Number of pages: 2

Extract:

Preface
This book originates from two impulses: the first analytical, the other norma-
tive. On the one hand is the difficulty of defining `governance' (despite its
widespread use) and of determining which phenomena are necessarily encom-
passed within it and which lie at or outside its boundaries. Our shared view
was that some of the phenomena that can be frequently observed in connec-
tion with governance are not entirely accounted for by the current literature;
hence the wish to fill this gap. On the other hand is the feeling that some of the
phenomena frequently observed in connection with governance are somehow
`disturbing' ­ that they represent more than just an extension of the activities
and relations that we would legitimately associate with the act of governing.
This double impulse prompted prolonged conversations among the contribu-
tors of these chapters which resulted in the reflections contained in this book.
European Union (EU)-level policy decisions crucially depend on interac-
tion among the institutions, individuals and groups which take part ­ at what-
ever stage ­ in the decision-making process. Yet which groups or individuals
should be in or out is not determined by general criteria of competence, right,
need or concern as would be those established by formalized systems of nego-
tiation; nor is it entirely left to the interplay of interest groups in the `political
market' for lobby and pressure. Participation is rather determined by a haphaz-
ard mix of the above criteria, some reflecting the process through which repre-
sentative ...