Portrait of the EU as a Rational Man: Collective Reason and Democratic Deficit

EUI Working Papers LAW No. 2012/19

33 Pages Posted: 31 Oct 2012 Last revised: 4 Feb 2015

See all articles by Vesco Paskalev

Vesco Paskalev

Brunel University London - Brunel Law School

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: July 1, 2012

Abstract

In the present paper I take a critical view on the well-known discursive dilemma which captures the difference between governance by collective reasoning or governance responsive to majoritarian will. Then I suggest the republican concept of collective reason as a new perspective for study of EU and analyse the European Union as an example of a system which collectivises reason. From such perspective the notorious democratic deficit is explainable as the contradiction between collective reason and popular will. This problem brings home the conclusion that neither collectivising reason nor responsiveness to majority will alone can fully satisfy our normative demands. Thus, I claim that it is necessary to find a way out of the dilemma by a decision-making process that can bring about the two solutions in the same time. I suggest that in polities where people (as individuals) identify with the people (as a group) the gap is closed by a stepwise process of deliberation in the public sphere. Paneuropean deliberation is possible solution for Europe but in practice is obstructed by the competition from the spontaneous deliberation in the existing national public spheres. The latter are more robust, so they close the rationality gaps faster at national level; national public opinions tend to polarise and defend a ‘national’ interest against further deliberative challenges. I argue that the notion of competition is useful to explain why despite the development of the common democratic institutions at EU level and the emergence of weak European public, the deficit is bound to persist.

Keywords: European Union, civic republicanism, deliberative democracy, democratic deficit, depoliticization

Suggested Citation

Paskalev, Vesselin, Portrait of the EU as a Rational Man: Collective Reason and Democratic Deficit (July 1, 2012). EUI Working Papers LAW No. 2012/19, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2168728 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2168728

Vesselin Paskalev (Contact Author)

Brunel University London - Brunel Law School ( email )

Kingston Lane
Elliott Jaques Building
Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH
United kingdom

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