Abstract
Populism may threaten the foundations of European democracy. Starting from the assumption that the European project has the potential to tackle populism thanks to its international nature, this chapter provides suggestions about how EU institutions should act to be perceived as part of the solution, rather than—as claimed by many populists—part of the problem. In contrast to populist forces that disrespect rule of law, diversity of opinions and democratic checks and balances, the role of the European Commission as guardian of the Treaties is pivotal in ensuring that ‘the European way of life’ measures up to the spirit of the EU legislation. The Commission should monitor the rule of law EU-wide, foster the development of a European public space for civic education on active citizenship, EU fundamental rights and values, and increase EU communication and engagement in local communities, especially in non-metropolitan areas. This could help overcome the feeling of abandonment and disconnect among citizens and thus reduce the scope for populism.
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Notes
- 1.
Conditions in 28 (of a total of 361) districts in Germany are ‘very strongly’ or ‘severely’ below average, according to a response from the German Government to a parliamentary question on this topic tabled by the Green parliamentary group in February 2017 (Hillje, 2018: 4).
- 2.
For more information: Hillje, J. (2018) undertook 500 interviews in France and Germany in socio-economically disadvantaged regions where high proportions of right-wing populist voters live by listening to people who are otherwise only ever spoken about.
- 3.
DEMOS (Democratic Efficacy and the Varieties of Populism in Europe) is a project funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 822590. It is carried out by 15 partner institutions in Europe and involves 10 disciplines. DEMOS investigates the phenomenon of populism through the lenses of democratic efficacy. The concept combines attitudinal features (political efficacy), political skills, knowledge, and democratic opportunity structures. The concept is understood as a condition of political engagement needed to address the challenges of populism.
- 4.
- 5.
Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).
- 6.
It came into effect with adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:12012P/TXT.
- 7.
CIVICUS defines ‘civic space’ as the bedrock of any open and democratic society, where citizens and civil society organisations are able to organize, participate and communicate without hindrance. This can only happen when a state abides by its duty to protect its citizens and respects and facilitates their fundamental rights to associate, assemble peacefully, and freely express their views and opinions.
- 8.
- 9.
Bennett et al. (2020: 40) defines ‘the others’ as: (a) geographical others already in the country (asylum seekers, immigrants), (b) geographical others outside the country (foreigners), (c) geographical others outside the country who are (potentially or in fact) approaching the country (refugees, immigrants), (d) political/ideological, (e) legal (criminals, paedophiles), (f) cultural/ethnic (other cultural values or patterns), (g) religious, (h) gender, (i) economic: the poor (losers, the unemployed) (j) economic: the rich (wealthy people, the winners) or (k) any other specific out-group.
- 10.
The Treaty on European Union sets out the conditions (Article 49) and principles (Article 6[1]) with which any country wishing to become an EU member must conform. The political criteria include stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.
- 11.
- 12.
- 13.
- 14.
Article 7, par.1 TEU.
- 15.
The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.
- 16.
Articles 7.2 and 7.3 TEU.
- 17.
(COM[2019] 0343).
- 18.
Examples: Ireland’s Citizen Assembly—https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/ and France’s Citizens’ Convention on Climate—https://www.conventioncitoyennepourleclimat.fr/.
- 19.
More information is available at https://participedia.net/method/5507.
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Kavrakova, A. (2021). Facing the Threat of Populism: How the European Commission Can Reconnect with Citizens. In: Ruzza, C., Berti, C., Cossarini, P. (eds) The Impact of Populism on European Institutions and Civil Society. Palgrave Studies in European Political Sociology. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73411-4_8
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