https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3052
•https://citizens.ec.europa.eu/index_en


Building
the European Union
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6. 12. 2022
www.karelmuller.eu
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The Concept of Civil Society
Complementary Giddens Perspective of Tocqueville
Müller KB (2006), The Civil Society-State Relationship in Contemporary Discourse: A Complementary
Account from Giddens Perspective. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 8
(2), 311-330.
Scheme 1 final
•Passivity, apathy
•Abuses of power
•Crisis of legitimacy, low trust to institutions
•Anomy, low trust to others

Predicaments of a European Civil Society
•
•Weak spots
•Complacency
•Lack of Politics (just Policy)
•Legitimacy/democratic deficit
•Weak European public sphere
•Weak European identity
•Weak European narrative




EU BUS



European Identity
•Aspiration for complementary and multiple positive identities
•

Make history history









POLITICISATION of the European Union
•Policy without Politics (EU) x Politics without Policy
•Weak Public Sphere, Weak Collective Identity, Weak Narrative
•Absence of Opposition (Alternatives) – Unanimity principle
•Voting system in the Council of the EU
•EU Commission or High Representative Proposals: Double (Qualified) Majority (55% of MS – 15 out of
27, and 65% of Citizens)
•Member state proposal: Reinforced Qualified Majority (72% of MS and 65% of Citizens
•The blocking minority must include at least four MS representing more than 35% of the EU
population
•Lisbon Treaty  (2009)       Citizens´ Initiative (2012)