Governing in Europe: effective and democratic?

Book abstract:

In this book, Professor Fritz Scharpf argues that the problem-solving capacity, and hence the democratic legitimacy, of national governments is being weakened by the dual processes of legal and economic integration in Europe. While this might be balanced by the development of effective and legitimate problem-solving capabilities at the European level, this has not yet happened. The author supports this position by examining the normative underpinnings of democratic legitimacy. He provides a detailed analysis of the structural asymmetry between the effectiveness of the legal instruments of 'negative integration' which prevent governments from interfering with the free movements of goods, services, capital, and persons and the political constraints impeding positive political action at the European level. This is particularly true for policies pertaining to the welfare state.

This text explores strategies at the national level that could succeed in maintaining welfare state goals even under conditions of international economic competition, and it also discusses the conditions under which European policy could play a protective and enabling role with regard to these national solutions. The author suggests that if these opportunities should be used, multi-level governance in Europe could indeed regain both effectiveness and legitimacy.

Chapter headings are: Political democracy in a capitalist economy; Negative and positive integration; Regulatory competition and re-regulation; National solutions without boundary control; The European contribution; Conclusion: multi-level problem-solving in Europe.

https://global.oup.com/academic/ https://global.oup.com/academic/

---