Democratic Governance Beyond the State: An Exploration of Democracy and Governance in the European Parliament

摘要

The growing internationalisation of governance in the modern era means that states are increasinglyudinterconnected. In this process, democratic governance has often taken second place to theuddemands of a neoliberal system that emphasises market-based solutions to social organisation andudderegulation of structures based in the democratic realm of states. This dissertation is an explorationudof the role democracy plays in regional governance bodies, focusing specifically on the EuropeanudParliament and its role in the European Union as an example of this.udThe dissertation argues that there is a role for democracy in global governance, and that theudEuropean Parliament represents a positive step towards introducing the wishes of citizens intoudpolitical structures above the level of the state. It uses a three-stage immanent criticism developedudfrom the early work of Max Horkheimer to explore the parliament in its historical, present, andudpotential functions. Built on a critical philosophy that understands the social world as a product ofudhistorically materialist action, this dissertation seeks not just to describe the functions of theudParliament, but also to suggest ways in which they might develop past their current limitations.udFollowing a methodological discussion on the application of immanent criticism, the dissertationudengages in a theoretical analysis of the complex concepts of democracy and governance as a preludeudto the exploration of the Parliament. The dissertation then utilises a range of interviews anduddocumentary evidence to present a thesis that has two main claims. Firstly, it argues that theudEuropean Parliament represents a new form of democratic regional structure that represents bothudstates and citizens, and introduces an element of democratic accountability to governance above theudlevel of nation states. Secondly, the thesis contends that the Parliament, as part of the wider Union,udpossesses the potential for greater democratic function. In making this argument, the dissertationudsuggests a range of practical ways to improve democracy and governance in the Parliament, and byudextension in other similar regional political bodies. These include the introduction of greateruddemocratic influence on decision making, increased transparency, dedicated European politicaludparties, and a stronger role for civil society bodies.udThe dissertation concludes that democratic governance has the potential to present an alternativeudto the dominant neoliberal structures that currently shape much of the international political,udeconomic, and social environment.