Participatory governance in the EU. Enhancing or endangering democracy and efficiency?

This book is an empirical assessment of whether participatory governance reforms within the European Union enhance or endanger democracy. The alleged democratic deficit of the EU and its waning legitimacy have inspired scholars and practitioners to look for new ways of improving democracy and efficiency within it.

Proponents of participatory governance, including the European Commission, argue that introducing new forums for interest-group participation and deliberation at the EU level will help create a more democratic and effective Union.

This book examines the veracity of this claim. It looks at whether it is possible to enhance decision-making efficiency and democratic legitimacy by involving interest group representatives in the formulation and implementation of policy. In doing so, Participatory Governance in the EU employs data from a unique expert survey of stakeholders and EU officials.

Contents:
1. Participatory governance: promises and pitfalls
2. Assessing participatory governance: a survey approach
3. The structure of political contestation
4. Opportunities for participation and access to information: adequate and equal?
5. Chances to influence policy: equal and effective?
6. Input and output legitimacy: synergy or trade-off?
7. Participatory governance: the way forward?