Larsson, Torbjörn --- "Committees and the Nature of Deliberative Supranationalism in the EU" [2007] ELECD 175; in Christiansen, Thomas; Larsson, Torbjörn (eds), "The Role of Committees in the Policy-Process of the European Union" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2007)

Book Title: The Role of Committees in the Policy-Process of the European Union

Editor(s): Christiansen, Thomas; Larsson, Torbjörn

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781845426224

Section: Chapter 2

Section Title: Committees and the Nature of Deliberative Supranationalism in the EU

Author(s): Larsson, Torbjörn

Number of pages: 27

Extract:

2. Committees and the nature of
deliberative supranationalism
in the EU
Torbjörn Larsson

INTRODUCTION

A classical discussion in the field of political science is the issue of political
legitimacy ­ that is, what gives the rulers the right (power) to impose their
will on the people or, slightly rephrased, why should the public follow the
decisions taken by the rulers, especially when a decision goes against their
private interest? The breakthrough of democracy at the beginning of the
20th century and later the triumph over both fascism and communism did
not in any way reduce the actuality of this discussion ­ on the contrary. A low
turn-out in general elections, a steady decline in political party membership
and the general public's scepticism towards the elected politicians have
rekindled the debate and warnings have been issued of a growing legitimacy
gap in today's democracies (Olsen, 1983, p. 14).
The creation of the European Union has played an important role in
this discussion and it has been seen both as a possible solution to the
problem and as a problem in itself. To some extent the EU is regarded as
an instrument by which Member States can solve some of the problems the
welfare state is facing and thus restore the general public's confidence. On
the other hand, the organisation and the functioning of the EU have raised
serious doubts about the legitimacy of the whole project as such and the
question has been asked whether the net effect ...