The European Union and the Public Sphere: A communicative space in the making? (Routledge Studies on Democratising Europe)

The European Union is often attacked for its ‘democratic deficit’, namely its deficiencies in representation, transparency and accountability, as well as its lack of popular support. Can these shortcomings be counteracted by the development of a viable European public sphere? This book assesses the possible formation of a communicative space that might enable and engender the creation of a transnational or a supranational public. The contributors consider the EU’s democratic credentials and how well it communicates, and they also evaluate the major institutions and their links to general publics. The European Union and the Public Sphere emphasizes a ‘deliberative democratic’ perspective on the public sphere, addressing some key questions: • What are the prospects for a European public sphere?• Should we think in terms of the EU having a single public sphere, or are overlapping public spheres a more viable option?• What do this book’s findings on the question of the public sphere tell us about the EU as a political entity? Students and scholars of European democracy, political communication, and the politics of institutions will all be greatly interested by this book. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Illustrations......Page 9 Contributors......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 14 1 The European Union and the public sphere: A communicative space in the making?......Page 16 Part I: Communicative practices and a European public sphere......Page 36 2 Conceptualising European public spheres: General, segmented and strong publics......Page 38 3 The public sphere and European democracy: Mechanisms of democratisation in the transnational situation......Page 59 4 A fragile cosmopolitanism: On the unresolved ambiguities of the European public sphere......Page 80 Part II: Assessing Europe’s general public(s)......Page 100 5 ‘Quo vadis Europe?’: Quality newspapers struggling for European unity......Page 104 6 Political communication, European integration and the transformation of national public spheres: A comparison of Britain and France......Page 125 7 The European void: The democratic deficit as a cultural deficiency......Page 150 8 Political integration in Europe and the need for a common political language......Page 169 9 EU enlargement, identity and the public sphere......Page 184 10 Religion and the European public sphere......Page 202 11 The public sphere in European constitution-making......Page 221 Part III: Institutional conditions and the European context......Page 238 12 European Commissioners and the prospects of a European public sphere: Information, representation and legitimacy......Page 242 13 Transparency, audiences and the evolving role of the EU Council of Ministers......Page 261 14 Transnationalising the public sphere?: The European Parliament, promises and anticipations......Page 274 15 Conclusion......Page 294 Bibliography......Page 301 Index......Page 322 The European Union And The Public Sphere : A Communicative Space In The Making? / John Erik Fossum And Philip Schlesinger -- Conceptualizing European Public Spheres : General, Segmented, And Strong Publics / Erik Oddvar Eriksen -- The Public Sphere And European Democracy : Mechanisms Of Democratization In The Transnational Situation / Klaus Eder -- A Fragile Cosmopolitanism : On The Unresolved Ambiguities Of The European Public Sphere / Philip Schlesinger -- Quo Vadis Europe? : Quality Newspapers Struggling For European Unity / Hans-jōrg Trenz -- Political Communication, European Integration, And The Transformation Of National Public Spheres : A Comparison Of Britain And France / Paul Statham -- The European Void : The Democratic Deficit As A Cultural Deficiency / Abram De Swaan -- Political Integration In Europe And The Need For A Common Political Language / Lars Chr. Blichner -- Eu Enlargement, Identity, And The Public Sphere / Maria Heller And Ágnes Rényi -- Religion And The European Public Sphere / Francois Foret And Philip Schlesinger -- The Public Sphere In European Constitution-making / John Erik Fossum And Hans-jōrg Trenz -- European Commissioners And The Prospects Of A European Public Sphere : Information, Representation, And Legitimacy / Andy Smith -- Transparency, Audiences, And The Evolving Role Of The Eu Council Of Ministers / Deirdre Curtin -- Transnationalising The Public Sphere? : The European Parliament, Promises, And Anticipations / Ulrike Liebert -- Conclusion / Philip Schlesinger And John Erik Fossum. Edited By John Erik Fossum And Philip Schlesinger. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [286]-306) And Index. The European Union and the public sphere : a communicative space in the making? / John Erik Fossum and Philip Schlesinger Conceptualizing European public spheres : general, segmented, and strong publics / Erik Oddvar Eriksen The public sphere and European democracy : mechanisms of democratization in the transnational situation / Klaus Eder A fragile cosmopolitanism : on the unresolved ambiguities of the European public sphere / Philip Schlesinger "Quo vadis Europe?" : quality newspapers struggling for European unity / Hans-Jorg Trenz Political communication, European integration, and the transformation of national public spheres : a comparison of Britain and France / Paul Statham The European void : the democratic deficit as a cultural deficiency / Abram de Swaan Political integration in Europe and the need for a common political language / Lars Chr. Blichner EU enlargement, identity, and the public sphere / Maria Heller and Agnes Renyi Religion and the European public sphere / Francois Foret and Philip Schlesinger The public sphere in European constitution-making / John Erik Fossum and Hans-Jorg Trenz European commissioners and the prospects of a European public sphere : information, representation, and legitimacy / Andy Smith Transparency, audiences, and the evolving role of the EU Council of Ministers / Deirdre Curtin Transnationalising the public sphere? : the European parliament, promises, and anticipations / Ulrike Liebert Conclusion / Philip Schlesinger and John Erik Fossum. The European Union is often attacked for its 'democratic deficit', namely its deficiencies in representation, transparency, accountability and lack of popular support. This book assesses the possible formation of a communicative space that might enable and engender the creation of a transnational or a supranational public