Making European Citizens: Civic Inclusion In A Transnational Context (one Europe Or Several?)

This collection examines the forms of transnational citizenship developing in Europe. Previous discussions have focussed on the construction of a European identity and the granting of common European rights, but rarely explore whether citizens have developed the capacity for self-rule. Active citizenship involves more than voting-citizens must be able to organize socially and politically. Achieving such mobilization at a transnational level may involve new democratic techniques and skills. The volume explores how far European citizens have acquired the requisite methods and qualities. "The book is well written and gives the reader a new way of approaching European citizenship!highly recommended."--Political Studies Review 'Extremely timely!a genuinely informative book, which helps to enhance our understanding of the obstacles to participation, representation and identity formation within the EU!highly recommended.' - Journal of Common Market Studies 'The merit of the present volume is that it shows how far the EU is from replicating the moderate successes of welfare states, governed through systems of party competition, and so how far it is from a meaningful conception of a democratic polity.' - Public Administration ' ... edited by three leading scholars!the coherence of the volume is noteworthy!Most chapters provide very valuable contributions to the subject. The introductory chapter by the editors is remarkable in its ability to synthesise in a few pages vast knowledge on citizenship!Interestingly, "optimism of the will" is not absent from some of the contributions, but!the reader of this outstanding volume would be inclined to think that "pessimism of the intellect" is the appropriate conclusion as regards an active European citizenship.' - West European Politics ' ... edited by three of the leading voices in European Union studies ... The volume is replete with rich insights and meanings, and deserves further reading, even for those relatively familiar with EU citizenship. This collection and its individual chapters will no doubt be cited by those seeking to get to grips with EU citizenship, its problems, its potential and likely future trajectories for years to come.' - Common Market Law Review Making European Citizens examines the forms of transnational citizenship developing in Europe. Active citizenship involves more than simply voting. Achieving mobilization at a transnational level may involve new democratic techniques and skills. The volume explores how far European citizens have acquired the requisite methods and qualities. Making European Citizens examines the development of transnational citizenship in Europe. Previous analyses have either focused on the extension of rights and feelings of belonging from the member states to the EU, or emphasized the postnational character of EU citizenship. Both approaches fail to explore the painstaking ways in which the legal and political institutions of transnational citizenship are evolving and the role citizens have played in promoting and shaping them. This volume brings together a multidisciplinary team of contributors. They discuss the new institutional forms of civic standing created by this new status, its transformation of the opportunity structures for the representation of citizens' interests, and the novel kinds of social and political mobilization required in transnational contexts. European citizenship is shown to modify, but not displace, traditional forms of national and local participation, allegiance and solidarity. Its contribution to European democracy remains an open question, with the contributors offering a variety of rival assessments and possible scenarios Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction: From National to Transnational Citizenship....Pages 1-28 Front Matter....Pages 29-29 The Contested Case of EU Electoral Rights....Pages 31-55 EU Citizenship and the Principle of Affectedness....Pages 56-74 We the Citizens? Representation and Participation in EU Constitutional Politics....Pages 75-95 Front Matter....Pages 97-97 Transnational Political Parties....Pages 99-117 Making Citizens from the Market? NGOs and the Representation of Interests....Pages 118-132 Legitimising EU Regulation: Procedural Accountability, Participation, or Better Consultation?....Pages 133-154 Front Matter....Pages 155-155 Lesson Learning and the ‘Civil Society of Interests....Pages 157-176 Local Mobilisation and Supranational Standards....Pages 177-195 Local Strategies for Civic Inclusion in a European Context: The Roma in the Czech Republic....Pages 196-216 Front Matter....Pages 217-217 Civic Competence and Identity in the European Polity....Pages 219-237 Between Past and Future: The Democratic Limits of EU Citizenship....Pages 238-265 Back Matter....Pages 266-270 Recoge: 1. Citizens'democratic standing and rights of participation - 2. Citizens'voice and interests - 3. Citizens' mobilisation and opportunities - 4. Democratic citizenship in a democratic Europe?