RECON: Theory in Practice

Abstract:

RECON seeks to clarify whether democracy is possible under conditions of pluralism, diversity, and complex multilevel governance. In order to get a proper handle on the democratic character and quality of what is unfolding in Europe, a set of proper democratic benchmarks are needed. RECON spells out three different models for democratic reconstitution in Europe. The first posits that democracy can be reconstituted as a combination of audit democracy at the Union level and representative democracy at the member state level. The second model posits that democracy can be reconstituted through establishing the EU as a multinational federal state. The third posits that European democracy can be reconfigured through the EU serving as a regional post-national Union with an explicit cosmopolitan imprint.

RECON studies the question of democracy in the EU across a broad range of subject areas. This brings up major challenges pertaining to research approach, research design, and research coordination. How can we recognise the different models across the different institutional, constitutional and policy areas of the project? The purpose of this report is to move from theory to practice. However, the contributions are not mere instances of operationalisation of the three RECON models to all the project’s relevant subfields. Instead, each contribution applies the RECON framework to its subject area with due attention to the particular methodological issues and the main lines of debate.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction | Erik O. Eriksen and John Erik Fossum
• Chapter 1 - Europe’s challenge: Reconstituting Europe or reconfiguring democracy? | Erik O. Eriksen and John Erik Fossum
• Chapter 2 - Democracy and European constitution-making | John Erik Fossum & Agustín José Menéndez
• Chapter 3a - A RECON-inspired democratic audit | Christopher Lord
• Chapter 3b - The EU’s multilevel parliamentary field: Analytical framework | John Erik Fossum and Ben Crum
• Chapter 4 - Applying the RECON models to gender democracy in Europe | Yvonne Galligan and Sara Clavero
• Chapter 5 - Between norms and practices of the public sphere: Assessing the infrastructures for democracy in Europe | Ulrike Liebert and Hans-Jörg Trenz
• Chapter 6 - Integration without democracy? Three conceptions of European security policy in transformation | Helene Sjursen
• Chapter 7 - Reconfiguring the complex socio-economic constitution of the Union | Agustín José Menéndez
• Chapter 8 - Reconstituting democracy in Europe and constituting the European demos? | Magdalena Góra, Zdzisław Mach and Hans-Jörg Trenz
• Chapter 9a - Reconstituting democracy in Europe’s post-national constellation: By dint of conflict of laws | Christian Joerges and Florian Rödl
• Chapter 9b - Cosmopolitanisation in the EU and Canada | John Erik Fossum

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