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Larsson, Torbjörn; Schaefer, Guenther F. --- "The Problem of Democratic Legitimacy in a Supranational Government" [2006] ELECD 287; in Hofmann, C.H. Herwig; Türk, H. Alexander (eds), "EU Administrative Governance" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2006)

Book Title: EU Administrative Governance

Editor(s): Hofmann, C.H. Herwig; Türk, H. Alexander

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781845422851

Section: Chapter 16

Section Title: The Problem of Democratic Legitimacy in a Supranational Government

Author(s): Larsson, Torbjörn; Schaefer, Guenther F.

Number of pages: 30

Extract:

16. The problem of democratic
legitimacy in a supranational
government
Torbjörn Larsson and Guenther F. Schaefer

INTRODUCTION

The ambition in this chapter is to discuss to what extent traditional sources
of democratic legitimacy can also be generated in a supranational European
government.1
In defining legitimacy, three different methods are normally used. The
first one, from a sociological perspective, stresses the extent to which the
public is prepared to accept the government's authority. The other one, from
a legal perspective, emphasises whether the rulers have established and are
adhering to predefined rules and regulations concerning public decision
making. The third method builds on a culture of legitimacy, individuals
sharing common values (language, ethnic origin, race, history, and so on)
establish their own authority which is accepted as being part of a unique
people or state. In other words, what goes into the decision-making machine
as well as what comes out of it is of importance and it is possible to argue
that non-democratic governments have legitimacy as well as democratic
ones. But when legitimacy is applied to democratic governments the two
concepts ­ legitimacy and democracy ­ become closely linked.2
Over the years the political system of the European Union has been
compared to several other types of democratic government leading to the
conclusion that it is rather different, if not unique. Thus, the European Union
has been compared and contrasted to a parliamentary (majoritarian) or
consensual government as well as with a federal (power sharing) government
­ ...