Democracy without democracy? Can the EU's democratic ‘outputs’ be separated from the democratic ‘inputs’ provided by competitive parties and majority rule?

Abstract

Various European Union (EU) analysts suggest that although a democratic deficit exists from the perspective of ‘input’ democracy, democratic processes such as competitive parties and majority rule are neither necessary nor suitable to secure democratic ‘outputs’ of the kind the EU delivers. This article disputes this claim. ‘Input’ arguments are vital to the legitimacy of decision-making in the EU's policy areas, and the non- and counter-majoritarian mechanisms these analysts advocate have perverse rather than beneficial effects on the quality of ‘outputs’.

Keywords:

• Democratic deficit
• ‘input’ and ‘output’ democracy
• majority rule

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Versions of this paper were presented at the Connex Workshops and conferences at Reading and Manchester. I am grateful to participants for helpful observations, and to David Coen, Christine Reh, Fritz Scharpf, and the journal's editors and referees for written comments.

Notes

Hix (2000) suggests the EP might act as a ‘fire alarm’, but its ‘input’ credentials are weak.

For the alternative scenario of establishing majoritarian democracy in the EU, see Hix 2008.